Tripura government sends official team to Arunachal Pradesh to bring back 24 rescued child labourers trafficked for illegal work. Inter-state police coordination ensures rescue, repatriation, and legal action against traffickers.
A three-member official team from the Tripura government has departed for Arunachal Pradesh to ensure the safe return of 24 rescued child labourers along with a few adult workers, following a coordinated inter-state operation to combat alleged human trafficking and illegal employment.
Tripura Labour, Social Welfare and Social Education Minister Tinku Roy confirmed on Thursday that the team, comprising officials from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), the Labour Department, and the Tripura Police, left from Kailashahar, the district headquarters of Unakoti. The rescued children and accompanying adults are expected to be brought back to Tripura within the next two to three days after completion of necessary legal and procedural formalities.
The rescue operation was carried out by the Arunachal Pradesh Police on Wednesday, acting on a formal request made by the Tripura Police. The children were allegedly trafficked to Arunachal Pradesh for unauthorised work under false promises of wages and benefits. According to officials, the children were taken without proper consent and were subjected to exploitative working conditions.
A senior Tripura Police official stated that confirmation of the successful rescue was received late Wednesday night. The rescued group includes 24 minors and a few adult workers who had reportedly travelled together. Family members had initially claimed that nearly 30 children were taken from Tripura, but subsequent verification established that 24 minors were forcibly engaged in illegal labour.
The case came to light after multiple families lodged a missing persons complaint at the Kailashahar Police Station in Unakoti district. Officer-in-Charge Tapas Malakar said that the Tripura Police immediately contacted their Arunachal Pradesh counterparts upon receiving the complaint, seeking assistance to trace and recover the missing children.
Following the request, the Arunachal Pradesh Police launched an intensive search operation across multiple locations, eventually leading to the identification and rescue of the trafficked children and adults. The swift coordination between the two state police forces played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of the victims.
Tripura Director General of Police Anurag personally intervened in the matter and spoke over the phone with his Arunachal Pradesh counterpart, Anand Mohan. He requested direct intervention to expedite the rescue and ensure the protection of the children. Officials credited this high-level communication for accelerating the operation.
According to police records, an FIR was filed on December 23 by family members of the missing children. The complaint alleged that the minors were ill-treated, forced to work under inhuman conditions, and denied basic rights, leading to severe physical and mental distress. Parents expressed deep concern over the safety and well-being of their children.
“The families are in extreme anguish and are desperately seeking the safe and early return of their children,” Officer-in-Charge Malakar told the media, emphasizing the humanitarian seriousness of the case.
Most of the affected families belong to tea garden communities in Rangrung Tea Garden and nearby areas of Unakoti district. The parents primarily work as daily wage labourers in tea estates and were reportedly misled by traffickers who promised steady income and better living conditions for their children.
Minister Tinku Roy had earlier written to Arunachal Pradesh Commerce and Industries, Labour and Employment Minister Nyato Dukam, seeking urgent intervention. In his letter, Roy highlighted that the children were taken under false assurances and later denied lawful wages, basic facilities, and humane treatment.
The minister stressed that the allegations involved serious violations of child labour laws, human rights, and inter-state trafficking norms. He appealed for immediate cooperation to facilitate the rescue and safe repatriation of the children to their homes in Tripura.
“In view of the seriousness of the matter and the humanitarian concerns involved, I earnestly request your kind intervention to extend all necessary assistance for the immediate rescue and safe repatriation of the child labourers,” Roy stated in the letter.
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Officials said that upon their return, the rescued children will be produced before the Child Welfare Committee for rehabilitation, counselling, and reintegration with their families. The Tripura government is also expected to initiate legal action against those involved in trafficking and illegal employment.
The incident has once again highlighted the persistent problem of child labour and trafficking in vulnerable communities, prompting renewed calls for stricter enforcement, awareness campaigns, and inter-state coordination to protect children from exploitation.
