Arunachal Pradesh Police have dismantled a suspected child trafficking and exploitation network, rescuing 19 children from different parts of the state and arresting three women allegedly involved as facilitators or brokers. A majority of the rescued children are reportedly below eight years of age.
The arrested women have been identified as Gumnya Kochung, Marta Ete and Neha Gerory. Police said the children were rescued from several locations, including Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding, during an investigation into a suspected inter-district trafficking network.
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How Did the Alleged Child Trafficking Network Operate?
The case came to light after the Namsai police station registered a complaint on August 17 based on information received from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Namsai. Given the seriousness of the allegations and the involvement of multiple districts, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to investigate the network and trace the children.
According to the preliminary findings, economically vulnerable families were allegedly approached by people promising better education, care and upbringing for their children. Police said the children were subsequently allegedly taken from their families, transported to distant locations and placed with different individuals.
The investigation has also uncovered suspected financial transactions linked to the alleged trafficking. Police said that in certain cases, monetary consideration ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per child was allegedly involved. Investigators are examining whether such payments were made to parents, guardians or intermediaries and are determining the individual role of everyone connected with the transactions.
Police have also found suspected instances in which some parents or guardians allegedly received money in connection with handing over their children. Investigators are examining the circumstances surrounding these transfers, including whether the families were deceived, pressured or knowingly involved in the transfer of custody.
The rescued children were found in different locations across Arunachal Pradesh, highlighting the inter-district nature of the suspected network. Investigators are now working to establish how the children were transported, who arranged their placement and whether additional people were involved in facilitating the movement and exploitation of minors.
Preliminary interaction with some of the rescued children has raised further concerns. Police said some children were allegedly made to work as domestic helpers and in hotels. In particularly concerning cases, some of the children were reportedly unable to recall even their parents’ names or provide basic information about their families.
The findings have prompted investigators to examine whether the children had been separated from their families for extended periods and whether their identities and family backgrounds were deliberately concealed. Authorities are also expected to establish the circumstances under which each child was removed from their original home and placed elsewhere.
Why Were Vulnerable Families Allegedly Targeted?
The case has brought renewed attention to the vulnerability of children from economically disadvantaged families. Promises of education, better living conditions and improved care can make families more susceptible to intermediaries who may later exploit the children or transfer them to other individuals for financial gain.
A cybercrime and child-protection perspective is also relevant where digital communication, identity documents or online networks may have been used to coordinate the movement or placement of children. Renowned cyber crime expert and former IPS officer Prof. Triveni Singh said organised exploitation networks increasingly rely on multiple channels to identify vulnerable targets and coordinate transactions. He stressed that authorities need to examine digital records, financial trails, identity documents and communication links alongside conventional evidence wherever technology is involved.
Police are continuing to investigate the role of the three arrested women and other persons suspected to be connected with the network. The circumstances surrounding the alleged payments, the identities of individuals who received or transferred children, and the purpose for which the children were placed at different locations are among the key aspects under examination.
The rescue of 19 children has provided investigators with an opportunity to trace the wider network and determine whether more children may have been affected. Authorities are also examining whether similar arrangements operated in other districts or involved additional intermediaries.
The children have been rescued as part of the ongoing investigation, while the allegations against the arrested women and other suspected individuals will be established through the legal process.
