JOIN USDCP asked to submit ATR in trafficking case
The child welfare committee’s Lajpat Nagar division has asked DCP of crime branch to submit an action taken report on an inter–state trafficking case of a placement agency based in Delhi. Astha Placement Agency had placed many children including girls as domestic workers in Delhi, NCR, Punjab and Rajasthan.
The case is going on for over a year and the traffickers have been identified, but police have not arrested any of them till date. This case was highlighted when police rescued two minors from Delhi homes in Malviya Nagar and Dwarka in 2011 where they were working as domestic workers. Shakti Vahini NGO was involved to look into the case.
One of the minors was even raped by her employer.
The CWC had given an order in 2011 asking police to investigate the matter and arrest the traffickers as they had been identified.
In its January 18, 2013 order, the CWC said the report submitted by crime branch in December 2012 is not satisfactory. “Inspite of the IO (investigating officer) of Kalkaji Police Station sending letters to SHO, PS Moti Nagar, Amar Colony, Hari Nagar, Chitaranjan Park, Mayur Vihar, Vasant Kunj, Saket, Tilak Nagar and Janakpuri for verification of domestic helps employed by Astha Placement agency, it is not clear whether any physical inspection was carried out by police at the addresses found from the records seized from the placement agency,” states the order.
Also, the police report does not mention if they coordinated with neighbouring state’s cops to verify the whereabouts of these children.
The deputy commissioner of police (crime branch) has been asked to submit an action taken report by the anti-human trafficking unit about the physical inspection and steps taken to arrest the traffickers. The Lok Sabha committee on empowerment of women had recently asked Delhi government’s chief secretary to reply whether the CWC order dated July 5, 2011 has been carried out in letter and spirit.