24 trafficked girls rescued, brought back to Dhanbad

DHANBAD: Twenty-four tribal girls from Dhanbad and Giridih, who had been trafficked a month ago, were rescued and brought to Dhanbad on Monday.

The girls – in the age group of 12-20 – were trafficked from Jharkhand on the pretext of good jobs and allegedly held captive as domestic helps in Pallakad district of Kerala.

Twenty-three rescued women are residents of Kurko village under Maoist-infested Pirtand block of Giridih and one is from Tundi block of Dhanbad.

The victims were brought to Dhanbad by Allappuzha Express on Monday afternoon by a team of officials constituted by deputy commissioner of Giridih Umashankar Singh.

Singh said he was informed by Palakkad Railway Protection Force (RPF) that the women were trafficked a month ago and were kept at the Mahila Sanrakshan Kendra in Kerala.

“After a month-long correspondence with the Palakkad district administration, we were able to bring them back,” said Singh adding that the district administration will take steps for their rehabilitation.

He said he had directed the police to identify the kingpin behind the trafficking of tribal women and girls. “The police have been directed to investigate the matter, and nab those involve in human trafficking,” said Singh.

Nita Sinha, chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, said, “All the victims were not interrogated as they were not in a condition to answer and stay back. They were sent home and have been called tomorrow (Wednesday) for interrogation so that appropriate action against the traffickers can be initiated.”