Nine girls rescued from job agency

NEW DELHI: The anti-human trafficking unit of crime branch has busted one of the biggest organized gangs which bought young girls and women from east and northeast India and sold them as bonded labourers to clients in upscale localities in and around the capital. A team headed by additional DCP (crime) P S Khuswah rescued nine minor girls and apprehended one of the accused, Munna Chaudhary, who owns a placement agency in Delhi.

"We got information and on July 13, a team of the anti-human trafficking unit, along with NGO Shakti Vahini, raided the premises of Rajdhani Placement Agency at Rajouri Garden in west Delhi. Three minor girls were rescued. A case under the Juvenile Justice Act, Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act and sections of IPC was registered. Another six girls were rescued after Chaudhary's arrest,'' said Ashok Chand, DCP (crime).

The 41-year-old placement agency owner was questioned at length. He disclosed that he has been running the agency for the past six years. "He bought minor girls through brokers and agents from rural areas of Assam, West Bengal and Orrisa. After being brought to Delhi, the victims were employed as domestic helps. The minor girls - mostly under 12 years - had no knowledge about their salary . All the girls want to go back. They have been sent to Nirmal Chhaya on the directions of the Child Welfare Committee,'' said additional DCP Khuswah. TOI