Imphal, Aug 11: A team of Thoubal Police comprising of lady officers rescued 3 girls including two minors who were being trafficked to neighbouring country Myanmar. The accused – a lady identified herself as Thangkhumi Mizo @ Thangi(56) W/o (l) Sanga Mizo of Moreh ward no. 3 and driver identified as Lalbaikliana(50) S/o (l) Vanvel Thanga of Khawmawi Village Churachandpur at present Ngathel Veng Churachandpur were arrested by the police team from Kakching Lamkhai area at around 4.15 pm, police says.
In a press conference held today the arrested accused were paraded before media at Conference hall of SP office Thoubal district police. Briefing media persons, Additional SP (LO) Rakesh Balwan said that on 10th August at about 3.00am got information from a reliable source regarding some minor girls being trafficked from Churachandpur side to Moreh and beyond.
Immediately a team of Thoubal Police including lady officers rushed and laid down a Check point at Kakching Lamkhai. At about 4.15am intercepted the suspected vehicle Maruti Suzuki ECCO bearing registration no. MN01G/5273 and apprehended the lady and driver and rescued three girls. All girls being from Churachandpur and in the age group 15-20 years with two minor girls.
A case was registered at Women PS with FIR No. 20(8)2016 WPS-TBL U/S 370(3)(5)/373,34 IPC & Sec 5(a) (d-i) of immoral trafficking (P) Act 1956. Both have been remanded to 10 days police custody. Additional SP (LO) Rakesh Balwan further added that the arrested lady revealed that she has sent many such girls across border with the help of her accomplice namely Mrs. Sesei Haokip (36) yrs of Head Quarter Veng CCpur, Mr. Lalrohlul of Appolo Veng, CCpur New Bazar. That there are many such agents like her few of them are namely (i) Mrs. Sangpui of Konpui Village, CCpur, (ii) Mrs. Sanghi of Thingkangphai village CCpur (iii) Mrs. Marry of Churachandpur and many more who do the same. She used to hand over girls to one person named Puia at Tamu who would take them to Yangoon (Rangoon) where one person named Baultei would arrange to stay of girls in Yangoon and also arranged fake passports and visas.
“We are still examining her and making a list of all such traffickers active in Manipur and trying to apprehend them by coordinating with other Districts police. At the same time we are also making a comprehensive list of all such trafficked girls”, Additional SP (LO) Rakesh Balwan added.
While taking statements of girls and examining accused police team had found out that many more girls from the state, hundreds have fallen prey to trafficking by such agents.
“The age profile of targeted girls being 14-20 years’, police said.
These traffickers target poor families preferably in interior of hill districts with promise of job in Singapore. Police also found out that the family of the girl was given Rs.5000/- after sending girl across border. The girls are handed over at Tamu to agents from Myanmar side from other places come as well. They are all given some basic training in language etc. Further from Yangoon they are taken to different places like Bangkok as per demand of trafficking industry. This is a big international racket and girls ultimately end up in immoral businesses, Additional SP (LO) Rakesh Balwan added.
It is requested to all people specially village elders to be vigilant and not to fall prey to such traffickers and immediately inform police if they come across such agents. This is a big international racket and we are exploring all options to stop the same.
