Girls, aged 8 to 15, trafficked and forced into prostitution; police, govt officials among 21 arrested

ITANAGAR: 21 people, including policemen and government officials, were arrested in a crackdown of child trafficking and prostitution ring in Arunachal Pradesh. Girls aged between 10-15 years are among the victims of the prostitution ring and were rescued.

The rescue operations by the police were in and around Itanagar in the last 10 days. All the five rescued girls were trafficked to Itanagar from villages in Assam. According to the police, the first two of them were trafficked to Itanagar when they were only 8 years old.

DySP in police and deputy director of health service directorate are among the arrested officials. The accused were charged under the POCSO Act. Out of the 21 people arrested so far, 10 have been charged with trafficking girls, soliciting clients and taking the victims to clients.

11 others have been identified as customers, who sexually assaulted the victims. Among them are Buland Marik, a Deputy SP with the Arunachal police; Dr Senlar Ronya, a Deputy Director with the Directorate of Health Services; Toi Bagra, a constable with the Arunachal police; Takam Langdip, an Assistant Engineer with the Public Works Department; and Michi Tabin, a Junior Engineer with the Rural Works Department.