Railway Protection Force begins campaign to combat human trafficking

The Railway Protection Force has begun a nationwide campaign to combat human trafficking. Special teams will be deployed on all long-distance trains/routes as part of "Operation AAHT," with the goal of rescuing victims, particularly women and children, from the clutches of traffickers.

With an increasing number of cases, the RPF, which rescued over 2,000 women and children from the clutches of traffickers between 2017 and 21, intensified its crackdown on human trafficking. Each year, the National Crime Records Bureau registers approximately 2,200 cases of Human Trafficking.

The Indian Railways, which transported over 23 million passengers per day prior to the pandemic, is the largest, fastest, and most dependable carrier for suspects who trafficked a large number of women and children. The RPF had a pan-India presence and were deployed in train escorting to protect railway assets and passengers.

As part of "Operation AAHT," the force's infrastructure and intelligence network could be used to collect, collate, and analyse information on victims, sources, routes, and destinations, popular trains used by suspects, identities of carriers/agents, kingpins, and so on, which could then be shared with other law-enforcement agencies. The RPF could serve as a link between states, assisting local police in their mission to combat the threat.

Human trafficking, particularly of women and children for sexual exploitation, forced marriage, domestic servitude, organ transplantation, drug trafficking, and other heinous crimes, is an organised crime and the most heinous violation of human rights. Every day, thousands of Indians and people from neighbouring countries were trafficked to destinations where they were forced to live as slaves. "They are also trafficked for illegal adoptions, organ transplants, circus work, begging, and the entertainment industry..." In a note to all Chief Security Commissioners of Zonal Railways, RPF Director-General Sanjay Chander stated.

To recover and assist the children in need of care and protection, 132 Child Help Desks are functional across Indian Railways in the country wherein the RPF cops work with the nominated NGO volunteers for the rescue of children.

Read the Railway Board Circular: Action to be taken by RPF against Human Trafficking under Operation AAHT