Children as young as 10-16 years were rescued this month in Gorakhpur. The intelligence input has helped 19 children from being trafficked to Delhi from Bihar in two separate buses.

The Impact of post lockdown has exacerbated the existing vulnerabilities of the poor which has created an opportunity for the traffickers. The link between calamities and human trafficking cannot be ignored.

The poverty in their family and the utmost need for work at this pandemic compelled their parents to send their children out, but the perpetrator’s ideas got failed after this rescue operation. With the rescue of 19 Children, Police has arrested 9 Traffickers who were the key role players behind this heinous crime.

All the 19 children were fortunate that they were narrowly escaped due to the rescue operation carried out by the Local Police & Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) team of Gorakhpur district. The rescued children were handed over to the district childline shelter home run by PGSS, a Caritas India partner for Anti-Human Trafficking program for care. The childline team members are counselling these children so that once they go back.

Based on the tip by an NGO team member, the local Police came into action & surrounded the area. The wee hours of 17th August were good for these children as all 19 minors were rescued at Jagdishpur area under Khorabar police station of Gorakhpur District.

During the quest by the police in two busses, all these minors were found & when they were asked, they told that they all are from Araria district  Bihar and are going to Delhi for work where they will get the handsome amount in return.

These children were unaware of the fact that they got the new life from this rescue. All the 9  Traffickers were planning to make money from this trafficking were booked under Section 370 of Indian Penal code (buying or disposing of any person as Slave )Sec 420 (Cheating & dishonesty including the delivery of property Section 79 Justice Juvenile Act & 3 Child Labor Prohibition& Regulation 2016. Act & were sent to Jail.

As we know Human Trafficking is an organized crime and the police officer says it is a matter of investigation now that how big their network is. However, these Traffickers are now behind the bars and the children are being counselled by the childline team members so that in the near future they should not get lured easily for the lust of money.

It can be said that due to  Covid-19 &  it’s greater Impact vulnerable people get entangled in trafficking  & are often forced to take unimaginable risks to try and escape poverty or persecution, accepting precarious job offers and making hazardous migration decisions, often borrowing money from their traffickers in advance. People trapped by traffickers are mostly trying to escape poverty or discrimination, improve their lives and support their families. Awareness creation among these vulnerable people can be one of the strongest weapons to combat Human Trafficking.