CUTTACK: Odisha’s efforts to crack down on human trafficking and the consequent reduction in such crimes has been taken note of by the Centre. The Union Home Ministry has extended its appreciation of the work done in the field by the State police, particularly the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit headed by IG Crime Branch YB Khurania recently.
The State has, in fact, recorded significant improvement in tracking human trafficking cases in the last couple of years. The rate of tracing and rescuing missing children has gone up from 18.6 per cent in 2011 to 75.35 per cent in 2013.
According to CB/CID sources, the success has been achieved by formation of a dedicated specialised unit to deal with the crime in the State. As many as 12 Integrated Anti-human Trafficking Units (IAHTUs) have been formed to tackle the menace.
The units have been engaged in surveillance at vulnerable places like bus stands and railway stations and are taking action on all suspected persons.
The police have also started treating all missing child cases as kidnapping or trafficking. Police stations have been directed to treat every report of missing with high importance and register cases of kidnapping and trafficking. Investigations should be taken up immediately on receiving a report.
While human trafficking has taken the shape of a serious problem across the globe, Odisha is also affected by it. While July 31 is observed as International Anti-Human Trafficking Day, the Crime Branch is hosting a two-day State-level training of trainers programme on the issue here starting on Friday.
Along with experts, all range IGs and DIGs, officers of IAHTUs, NGOs, social welfare officers and labour welfare officers from districts and public prosecutors will take part in the programme that would be inaugurated by DGP Sanjeev Marik.