Trafficking case: 56-year-old woman arrested

The South 24 Parganas District Police arrested a woman on charges of trafficking on Monday from Delhi. The local court issued a transit remand to bring the accused to Kolkata on Tuesday.

Police learnt that the 56-year-old accused, identified as Anju Biwi, took the woman to Delhi with the promise of a good job but later allegedly sold her in a red-light area.

Police learnt that the victim, a resident of Canning, managed to escape and took a train to come back to Kolkata and reached her house safely. An FIR was lodged by her family members. A police team reached Delhi and arrested Anju. However, the investigators learnt that Anju was connected with a woman-trafficking racket and knew many people in the red-light area. However, there were many trafficking cases reported in Bengal in recent times.

The tentacles have spread as far as Siliguri. In the recent six months, at least nine girls who were sold to Nepal have been rescued.

"We are suspecting a Delhi-based trafficking racket along with Anju's involvement. Some locals of South 24 Parganas may also be involved," said a police officer.