Indian Cops Geared To Battle Human Trafficking
NEW DELHI, June 29 (Bernama) -- Termed a leading source, transit and destination country for human trafficking in South Asia, India has armed its police force with standard operating procedures (SOP) to combat the scourge.
The police have embarked on battling the social evil within its borders and across the region where thousands of women and children are trafficked annually and forced into bonded labour or sexual exploitation.
"Human trafficking has become the third largest (industry) after drugs and arms smuggling.
"Indians are trafficked to the Middle East and many trafficked to the US (United States) and Europe for labour," Ajay Maken, Minister of State for Home Affairs, told the media during the launch of the SOP manual today.
The nearly 200-page manual was prepared by Uttar Pradesh Deputy Inspector-General of Police Anju Gupta, a leading expert in the field of human trafficking, and commissioned by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM).
The SOP would help Indian police, working across the country with different complex state laws, to conduct systematic investigations of human trafficking, protection of victims, witness protection measures and guidance on cross-border investigations.
"The IOM and the Indian Government initiated this model SOP for the police and other stakeholders. We need to create awareness on the nature of trafficking, investigation, rehabilitation and repatriation of the victims," said Maken.
Although hard statistics are not available to reveal the magnitude of human trafficking around the global due to the clandestine nature of the operation, international agencies estimate that annually, about 700,000 people fall victim to this crime.
It is described as the fastest growing industry in the world with estimated revenue of between US$5 billion and US$9 billion (US$1 = RM3.5) a year.
