1. NIA files charge sheet against 24 individuals, including 5 foreigners, in Assam human trafficking case.
2. The case targets international syndicates trafficking Bangladeshis and Rohingyas into India using forged documents.
3. Efforts reflect NIA’s commitment to combat human trafficking and transnational crime in Assam.
Guwahati, Feb 06: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has taken significant strides in combating human trafficking in Assam, as it files a charge sheet against 24 individuals, including five foreigners from Bangladesh and Myanmar.
The case revolves around international syndicates engaging in trafficking nationals of Bangladesh and Rohingya people of Myanmar into India through the use of forged documents.
The charge sheet, presented in a special NIA court in Guwahati, encompasses various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, Foreigners Act, and the Passport (Entry into India) Act and Rules. Notably, four Bangladeshis and one Myanmar national are among the accused facing charges.
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Initially, the NIA made 29 arrests during extensive raids across 39 locations in Tripura, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, and West Bengal, in collaboration with state police agencies.
These raids yielded a plethora of incriminating evidence, including forged Indian identity documents, bank records, and digital devices.
Subsequent operations led to the apprehension of four more suspects in Tripura, bringing the total number of arrests to 33.
The case originated from Assam Police’s investigation under the Passport Act, triggered by concerns over organised human trafficking syndicates smuggling Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingya refugees into India using falsified documents.
Following credible inputs, the NIA assumed control of the case on October 6.
Investigations uncovered the extensive reach of international human trafficking syndicates operating along the Indo-Bangladesh border in Tripura, Assam, West Bengal, and beyond.
These syndicates routinely trafficked Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals, facilitating their settlement across India by producing counterfeit Indian identity documents.
Moreover, the networks had ties with facilitators and traffickers across borders, forming part of a broader syndicate engaged in trafficking activities along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
Exploiting the vulnerabilities of the trafficked individuals, the syndicates arranged false employment opportunities in various unorganised sectors, subjecting victims to exploitative conditions.
Female victims, in particular, faced egregious forms of exploitation, with some Rohingya women reportedly sold into marriage with older men.
The acquisition of Indian identity documents by Bangladeshi nationals involved collusion with local authorities, who issued documents based on falsified supporting materials and certificates.
The charge sheet represents a crucial step towards dismantling transnational human trafficking networks and ensuring justice for the victims.
The NIA’s relentless pursuit of justice underscores its commitment to combating this heinous crime and safeguarding vulnerable populations from exploitation and abuse.
