Bengaluru: Following an alarming rise in the cases of human trafficking in India, with the national data revealing a rise of nearly 25 per cent in 2016, the Karnataka police are in process of reforming their investigation methodology while dealing with cases reported under Anti-Human Trafficking Act.
With Karnataka standing second among southern states in human trafficking (404 cases), only 30 less than neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which tops the list, the state police wants to act tough with more pro-active measures.
The police headquarters is all set to issue new guidelines for officials dealing with human trafficking cases to streamline the investigation process and to make it more effective. The instructions will soon be issued to all the Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTU), Police Commissioners and Superintendent of Police (SP’s) in the state.
The new guidelines lay stress on reaching to the root of the menace by identifying touts and arresting those who operate these trafficking gangs, rather focusing more on smaller players and shutting down premises where such incidents take place.
The guidelines also mention the way the victims of human trafficking ought to be handled. “The condition is such that in the cases of trafficking registered under Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, victims are more victimised than the exploiters,” said Rupak Kumar Dutta, DG&IGP.
Dutta told Deccan Chronicle that the police had not gone to the extent of unearthing the entire human trafficking network, except for few incidents. “Unless the network is busted and the kingpins are brought to book, the number, no doubt, will continue to escalate,” he said.
He hoped that with the introduction of the guidelines, the entire investigation process would be much more effective.
