Trafficked local girls rescued from Yangon, brought back home

By A Staff Reporter

IMPHAL | Sept 30

Altogether eight girls including some minors from Churachandpur district who were trafficked to Yangon have been rescued and brought back to the state today.

The girls were rescued from Yangon and brought back to Kolkata yesterday.

The rescued girls were brought to Imphal by officials of social welfare department, child line Bishnupur and district administration (DC) Churachandpur this afternoon around 2 pm.

From the airport the girls were taken to Churachandpur by a team of the DC and superintendent of police of the concerned district after they were formally handed over by the officials of the social welfare department at the airport.

Speaking to IFP, the Churachandpur DC, disclosed that the girls were rescued by Impulse NGO with the help of Myanmar police during a raid from a hostel in Yangon a week back.

He said the girls will be handed over to their families or given rehabilitation after necessary formalities are carried out.

According to state pogramme officer (SPO)-integrated child protection scheme (ICPS), Sandhya, one of the officials who escorted back the rescued girls from Kolkata, said the girls were brought back to Kolkata yesterday by a team of Impulse NGO with the help of Myanmar embassy and kept at Manipur Bhawan Kolkata.

Nothing could be ascertained about the movements of the girls at the moment as they apparently are confused, said the social welfare officer adding that proper counseling would be given.

Nevertheless, citing preliminary reports she revealed that most of the girls were to be taken to Singapore to be engaged as house maids.

She lauded the Impulse NGO and Myanmar government in making the rescue operation and return journey of the girls successful. And, also the home department Manipur and Churachandpur DC for their strong support.

It is learnt that the Chuarachandpur district administration sent the assistant commissioner (AC) to assist in the operation to bring back the girls in the state.

Shandya further informed that all necessary rehabilitation or other requirements will be initiated by the child welfare committee (ICPS) Churachandpur.

Child line Bishnupur, director L. Pishak, citing the increasing rate of trafficking cases in the entire NE region particularly Manipur drew the attention of the government to beef up security after and take tough stand on human trafficking.

He said many of the trafficking cases remained unreported and that there are children out there waiting to be rescued.

The child line director further observed that inability of the government concerned to give befitting punishment to human traffickers is also another factor resulting in failure to curb the growing human trafficking cases.