RPF nabs one for trafficking of 4 minors

Bokaro: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) at the Bokaro Steel City railway station successfully foiled an alleged child trafficking attempt under ‘Operation AAHAT’ and rescued four minor children from being taken out of the state, officials said on Thursday. One person has also been arrested in connection with the case, an official statement of the RPF said.

The rescue operation was carried out on February 3 at platform numbers 2 and 3 of the station, following inputs about suspicious movement of minors, the statement said.

Acting on the inputs, the RPF team intercepted a group of 19 passengers preparing to board train number 02831. During verification, four minors were found travelling without valid consent or awareness of their destination.

On further questioning, the accompanying adult identified as Ramu Kumar Ray (30), a resident of Madhuban police station area of Giridih district, allegedly admitted that he brought the children from different villages on the pretext of providing them employment. He was taking them to Annur in the Coimbatore district of Tamil Nadu.

The RPF officials said the travel expenses were arranged by Ray, and e-tickets were booked with funds transferred by a person linked to a private firm based in Tamil Nadu. The accused also reportedly confessed to being involved in similar activities since 2021.

The rescued minors, aged between 14 and 17 years, belonged to various villages in Giridih district. They were later handed over to Childline Bokaro, where they said they were being taken to Tamil Nadu, but were unaware of the identity of the employer or the wages promised to them.

“All four minors were produced before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Bokaro. The accused person was detained, and two mobile phones, seven journey tickets and Rs 3,200 in cash were seized from his possession,” the RPF statement said, adding that an FIR has been filed at the Government Railway Police Station, Bokaro, under sections 137(2), 143 and 144 of the BNS, along with sections 3 and 4 of the Bonded Labour Prohibition Act.