Vijayawada: The state capital region is becoming a hub for human trafficking, with several networks developing over the last few years. As Vijayawada expands at a fast pace and develops on all fronts, criminals have come out with innovative ways for flesh trade.
Police cracked down on prostitution gangs but still big rackets run in the city. Social activists allege that the loopholes in the police department and in the administration are a few causes of the increase in human trafficking in the city. They also warn that if the new capital city gets permission for international airport, sex tourists will throng it.
HELP, an NGO, stated in its study that the police expressed concern that as the works in the capital city increase, labour migration from other states is also increasing and the city is emerging as the new hub for human trafficking.
In a study by HELP, the respondents said that begging gangs were proliferating in the city due to trafficking in children brought from various places in the country.
As the number of foreign tourists and business people visiting the city has been increasing, brothels are concentrating on attracting them to increase their business, said a Child Welfare Committee member.
“Non-cooperation by the victim’s family members is the one of the major causes of increasing human trafficking in the state.,” said HELP secretary, Nimmaraju Rammohan Rao.
