Chaibasa (Jharkhand), May 18 (IANS) In a major crackdown, police in Chakradharpur of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district have busted a human trafficking racket and rescued 36 labourers and six minor children.

A joint team of the police and the Labour Department conducted a raid at a hotel and rescued the labourers and the minors, who were allegedly being prepared to be taken to Gujarat.

The action was taken based on a tip-off. Police had received information that a large number of male and female labourers and children were being kept at a hotel in Chakradharpur, and preparations were underway to send them to another state.

Acting swiftly, the police formed a special team on the instructions of the Senior Superintendent of Police. The team included officials from the police, the Labour Department, the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), and the Childline.

During the raid, several labourers and children were found at the hotel. Police also seized a bus belonging to a travel company, which was reportedly meant to transport the labourers to Gujarat.

Among the six rescued minors were five boys and one girl. Following directions from the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), all the children were handed over to Childline Chaibasa. The remaining labourers are also being questioned.

Police have arrested two persons from Gujarat’s Morbi in connection with the case. They have been identified as Nikunj Govind Borsania and Kadivar Nilesh. Both are accused of luring labourers and children and attempting to take them to another state.

A case has been registered against the accused under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and child labour laws. They have been sent to jail.

Police, along with the Labour Department, are now investigating the local links and forward network of the trafficking gang to dismantle the organised chain of human trafficking operating from Jharkhand completely.

–IANS

sn/vd