The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has intensified its crackdown on a highly active transnational human trafficking network operating across Tripura and other states. On Monday, the agency filed supplementary charge sheets against eight individuals– among them five are from Tripura, one from Silchar, one from West Bengal and one from Bangladesh accused of orchestrating a sophisticated racket aimed at trafficking Rohingyas and Bangladeshis into India through the use of falsified documents.
The accused, identified as Jalil Miah, Hanan Miah, and Anwar Hussain alias Mama, among others, allegedly played pivotal roles in facilitating the illegal entry of individuals from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Kajal Sarkar, another prime suspect, remains at large, while Kamal Das, brother of the charged Amal Chandra Das operating from Silchar, and Liton Chakraborty from West Bengal are also named in the charges.
According to the NIA’s statement, Liton Chakraborty specialized in producing counterfeit Indian identification documents for Bangladeshi nationals, exploiting fake or forged supporting documents. Meanwhile, Rabiyl Hasan, a Bangladeshi national implicated in the trafficking ring, was found to have strong connections with arrested suspects in various Indian states, including Tripura, West Bengal, Assam, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka.
The investigation by the NIA, initiated following a case registered in October 2023, has unearthed a sprawling network involving numerous facilitators, touts, and traffickers spanning Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, and Bangladesh. The agency’s findings indicate a disturbing nexus between these operatives, who reportedly subjected trafficked individuals to forced labor under harsh conditions and minimal wages, often under threat of police arrest.
Earlier actions by the NIA had already resulted in charge sheets being filed against 24 Bangladeshi nationals, underscoring the scale and complexity of the syndicate. The case originated from a preliminary investigation by the Assam Special Task Force (STF) in September 2023, highlighting the collaborative efforts of law enforcement agencies in tackling such transnational crimes.
The NIA continues its efforts to apprehend absconding suspects and unravel further details of the extensive trafficking network, emphasizing the ongoing challenges in combating organized crime across international borders. This latest development serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities faced by marginalized communities and the persistent efforts required to safeguard human rights and uphold the rule of law.
