Human Trafficking on the Rise in West Bengal, Thousands Go Missing Every Year

Bangalore: In one of the most populous states of India, West Bengal, women and children continues to be the most targeted ones by traffickers. The most recent report by United Nations Office on Drug and Crime (UNODC) entitled 'Anti Human Trafficking, 2013' disclosed that in West Bengal more than 19,000 women and children were reported to be missing out of which only 6000 could be traced. The state is considered as one of the most vulnerable place for trafficking as it serves not only as a central location for intra and interstate trafficking but to international trafficking also, reports Krishnendu Bandyopadhyay and Rohit Khanna for TOI.

The problem of missing children and women are increasing tremendously, reveals the files and reports by government and other various organizations of the state. Many families of such victims are still hoping that their near and dear ones would come back fine, though the whereabouts and the conditions of the victims still remain unknown.

The rise in trafficking case is mainly due to the outstanding accessibility of railways, roadways, airways and waterways that offer easy transit points and also the international borders shared by the state.

The family of a sixteen year old girl from Madhyamgram spent many sleepless nights as their girl failed to get in touch with the family for more than six months after a neighbour took her along with him promising her of getting a teaching job at doctor’s residence in Burdwan. Instead she was forced to land up in prostitution trade. It was fortunate that the girl was saved by her brother with a team of police after she contacted him.

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