Express News Service
KOLKATA: After BJP Mahila Morcha leader Juhee Chowdhury, Jalpaiguri District Child Protection Officer (DCPO) Shashmita Ghosh is under the scanner for her alleged role in the child trafficking racket that may be linked to North Block in New Delhi.
Jalpaiguri District Magistrate Rachna Bhagat issued a show cause notice to the officer on Tuesday questioning her ignorance over the massive child trafficking racket in which an estimated 30-40 children may have been trafficked. The CID is also likely to question Ghosh about her knowledge regarding the racket.
CID claimed that the Jalpaiguri District Child Protection Committee was dissolved in 2012 and an ad hoc committee was formed, which was headed by Ghosh that functioned till 2013. The CID has alleged that during that one year tenure, 17 children have been trafficked from children's homes of Chandana Chakraborty under the supervision of Ghosh. Her role in dealings with international adoption is also under probe. Also under the scanner is an expensive car owned by Ghosh's husband that the CID claims may have been gifted by prime accused Chakraborty.
To the allegations, Shashmita Ghosh told media: "I never headed any ad hoc committee. I have only followed my duties in the adoption process. Yes, there are provisions of international adoption, but I have no idea about international trafficking."
Asked whether she knows Chandana Chakraborty, she gave an affirmative reply. "Yes, I know Chandana Chakraborty as her homes were funded under Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) of Ministry of Women and Child Development. The homes funded by ICPS are under the District Child Protection Unit," she said.
However, she stated she did not know Juhee Chowdhury. On the expensive car, Ghosh said:"I have an old car and a motorbike."
Three months after the Bhaduria newborn trafficking racket in North 24 Parganas district was unearthed, the Jalpaiguri child trafficking module is as an even bigger and well-connected trafficking network in which top government officials both in the state and centre may be involved.
Meanwhile, Juhee Chowdhury, whom the CID has accused to be the main link between the power corridors and the alleged traffickers is nowhere to be found. The CID has launched a massive hunt for Chowdhury throughout the state and New Delhi.
On the other hand, locals scared for their children enforced blockade in Devnagar area of Jalpaiguri demanding closure of Chandana Chakraborty's children homes.
