Human trafficking: Police crack down on illegal placement agencies

New Delhi: Unsafe migration from the states leads to human trafficking and illegal placement agencies have been playing a key role in building a strong trafficking network. Taking a note of the situation, Delhi Police has started a crackdown in illegal placement agencies which have been flourishing in the Capital.

Police sources told Millennium Post that the Central Delhi Police have started the move and they have asked all the station house officers (SHO) and the concerned Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) to check illegal placement agencies flourishing in their areas and take quick action against them.

Sources further claimed that in a meeting senior police officers have told the SHO and ACP about the illegal activity. After the investigation, it will be the duty of ACP to give their senior police official a report on them. So far in Central Delhi, around seven placement agencies have been found legal. "An advisory regarding the illegal placement agencies will also be sent to the concerned police official of their jurisdiction," said a police source.

The move came after Central Delhi Police in a major breakthrough, busted a human trafficking and forced bonded labourer racket, and arrested three accused persons. A total of 16 bonded labourers, including seven minors, were rescued during the entire operation.

According to NGO Shaktivahini, several illegal placement agencies flourish in cities like Delhi where there is a high demand of live-in maids who can work even at odd hours as per the schedule of the employers. The employers are also specifically looking for younger children because 'they are cheaper', complain less and can be exploited. Sources claimed that the illegal placement agencies have the network which operates from the village from where the girl is trafficked.

Rishi Kant from Shaktivahini stated that the traffickers first spot the vulnerable places in villages after which they conduct a recce of the area to know which family is very poor and in search of money. "They start contacting the family and tell them that their children will have a good life in metropolitan cities and also send them money if they are sent to them. But in reality, all the money is taken by the placement agency, not even a single penny is sent to the family," he said.