NIA unearths Human Trafficking syndicate across India, Bangladesh Border

Agartala, Feb 07, 2024, By Our Correspondent

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed a charge sheet against 24 out of 29 accused individuals in a high-profile human trafficking case spanning multiple states, including Tripura. Subsequently, four more suspects were apprehended from Tripura in December, bringing the total number of accused to 33, with five hailing from neighbouring Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The raids, conducted across 39 locations in Assam, West Bengal, and Jammu and Kashmir, targeted an international syndicate involved in trafficking Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya people into India using forged documents. The charge sheet, submitted in a special NIA court in Guwahati, outlines various charges under the Indian Penal Code, Foreigners Act, and Passport (Entry into India) Act and Rules.
The investigation, initially initiated by the Assam Police under the Passport Act, uncovered organized human trafficking syndicates facilitating the illegal entry of individuals for anti-India activities. The NIA took over the case on October 6 and revealed extensive networks operating along the Indo-Bangladesh border, particularly in Tripura, Assam, and West Bengal.
The syndicates were found to be trafficking individuals and forging Indian identity documents to facilitate settlement across the country. Exploiting the victims, the traffickers arranged employment in unorganized sectors, with women subjected to various forms of exploitation, including forced marriages.
Investigations unveiled a complex web of facilitators and traffickers operating on both sides of the border, conspiring to traffic individuals and provide forged documents and logistical support. Bangladeshi nationals obtained Indian identity documents through collusion with local bodies, using fake or forged supporting documents and certificates provided by complicit officials.
The NIA's intervention underscores the scale and sophistication of transnational human trafficking operations, emphasizing the need for coordinated efforts to combat such criminal networks. Authorities remain vigilant, actively dismantling syndicates and holding perpetrators accountable for their heinous crimes.