Human trafficking in North Eastern states surge by 250 per cent

A whopping 250 per cent jump has been witnessed in human trafficking cases in northeastern states last year as compared to 2015, with most being reported from Assam.

Of the total 1,539 human trafficking cases registered in 2015, as many as 1,494 were from Assam, 20 from Meghalaya, 16 from Tripura, six from Nagaland and three from Arunachal Pradesh, an official said.

The total number of such cases reported in these eight states in 2014 were 435, while just 186 in 2013.

In 2014, about 93.5 per cent or 407 human trafficking cases were reported from Assam. Of the total 435 such incidents, 17 were also reported from Meghalaya, four from Nagaland, two from Arunachal Pradesh and three from Manipur, the official said.

Incidentally, in 2013 too, Assam had topped the list of human trafficking cases in the northeast, with 149 of the 186 cases, the official said.

Though police is a state subject and registration, investigation and prevention of crime of human trafficking are the state government’s responsibility, the Centre has adopted multi-pronged approach to combat the menace, the official said, adding apart from it, anti-human trafficking units have been set up in the state governments, including northeastern states.