Authorities rescued two 17-year-old girls from Mizoram in a suspected trafficking case and apprehended a 61-year-old man from Ahmedabad at the Panitanki border in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district.
The man allegedly planned to take one girl to Nepal for a casino job. Authorities later rescued the second girl from his Siliguri residence on October 11.
The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), working with Kosi Lok Manch, a partner organisation of Just Rights for Children (JRC), intercepted the man and the first girl at the Indo-Nepal border.
The girl said both her parents had died and that a long-time friend of her parents had offered her work at a casino in Nepal. The man gave a different account of their acquaintance.
During questioning, he claimed to operate several spa centres in Mumbai and Pune. He said a woman employed at one of his Mumbai establishments had introduced him to the girl.
Investigators learnt that the two had reportedly stayed together for about a month.
A search of his mobile phone reportedly revealed explicit photographs, videos and child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) involving minors, including the rescued girl. Investigators then learnt about another Mizoram girl staying at his Siliguri residence.
The team alerted senior police officials and Bhakti Nagar Police Station. Authorities rescued the second girl around 11 PM. She had reportedly been brought for work but was kept as a domestic helper. Her phone also contained explicit material involving minors.
Police registered a case at Kharibari police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, POCSO Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Information Technology Act. Authorities produced both girls before the Child Welfare Committee after completing police formalities.
JRC National Secretary Rishi Kant warned that traffickers often lure girls with employment or dance opportunities. He stressed that timely SSB intervention helps protect vulnerable children.
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