Human traffickers in police net

The four accused in the custody of the Women Cell, Dimapur on Sunday, November 22. (RIGHT) Money seized from the accused which they received after selling off the girls.   (Morung Photo)

DIMAPUR, NOVEMBER 22 (MExN): Human trafficking is a thriving trade in the state. On Saturday, November 21, four persons were arrested by the Women Cell Dimapur for being involved in the despicable racket. They included three women and a man.
The arrested were identified as one Parvina Begum (22 years), an Asmina Begum (24 years), one Rahima Begum alias Rohula Khatun (40 years) and the man Asab-Uddin (26 years). The main accused one Umar Farooq is yet to be arrested. Parvina is said to be one of the wives of Farooq.
The Investigation Officer, sub-inspector Rose said that the quartet was arrested after reports of three girls (all under aged) who had gone missing were received.
The I\O said that Rahima Begum is the mother of Asmina and Parvina while Asab-uddin is the husband of Asmina.
It is learned that the three girls were sold off to a brothel a few days ago in Pune with help from the absconding main accused Umar Farooq for Rs 1 lakh. The trafficked girls were lured away by the accused with the promise of good jobs and were first taken to Tezpur where they met up with Umar Farooq. From there they went to Guwahati and reached Pune by train. One of the accused Rahima Begum is said to be not directly involved in the trafficking but it was however in her knowledge.
Asab and Parvina were paid Rs 12000 by Farooq for their part in the sell-off and returned back to Dimapur. Farooq, it is learned did not come up to Dimapur.
The three trafficked girls (all non-locals) are said to be from Dodo colony (Lahorijan), Railway Colony, Dimapur and East Block (Burma Camp). Police are yet to trace their whereabouts in Pune.
Accused Parvina and Asab-Uddin were handed over to the Women Cell by the residents of East Block (Burma Camp) on November 11, the I/O said. The residents of the locality after getting whiff of the missing girls caught the accused and handed them over to the police it is learned. Further interrogation led to the arrest of the other two from Dodo colony (Lahorijan).
Main accused Umar Farooq is said to have been involved in the immoral trade for the last 15 years, the arrested told police. He uses an alias in Pune it is learned. He uses several Assam mobile numbers which can most probably be tracked. Other accomplices are suspected to be involved in the racket.