Alappuzha: The District Child Welfare Committee (DCWC) has sought an explanation from the local police for not ordering an investigation into the incident in which two minor children from Andhra Pradesh were abducted and made to live for several days in a rented house in Alappuzha by Mustafa, who is a known offender engaged in the sex trade.
Mustafa was arrested by Vijayavada police from the Karnataka border on Wednesday with the help of Hashim, an auto driver from Alappuzha.
DCWC member M.K. Abdul Samad told Deccan Chronicle that the police must investigate whether the children were sexually or mentally abused in Alappuzha and the motive of the accused in staying in Alappuzha.
"The local police has flouted the rule of the Juvenile Justice Act, which clearly says that if any children are found in mysterious circumstances, they should be produced before the concerned CWC.
But, in this case, the local police has voluntarily handed over the children to the Andhra police, not consulting with CWC. As the accused has a criminal record, his connection with Alappuzha has to be investigated by the local police. The background of the auto driver who helped Mustafa should also be investigated," Samad demanded.
Alappuzha South Circle Inspector Shajimon Joseph said that they had no information about the children. Two policemen in the south police station assisted the AP police team to find where the children were living. "We know nothing else. The AP team took the children on Wednesday," said Joseph.
When asked whether a case had been registered against Hashim, who facilitated the accommodation to Musthafa, he said that no investigation has been launched in this regard as the Andhra police had taken over the investigation.
Mustafa, said to be a native of Chennai, has been accused of trafficking about 300 children in Andhra Pradesh and was declared 'most wanted' by the AP police. His arrest has shed new light on the murky flesh trade in Alappuzha.
Deccan Chronicle had carried an investigative report on June 26 citing the connection of sex rackets in Alappuzha with the houseboat industry, and exposed rackets run by the trio of Jessy, Zeenath and Shehna.
Following the report, the Special Branch of the State Police had ordered an inquiry. However, the local special branch investigation reached the conclusion that there were no such rackets.
