NIA releases names of 24 accused, including 4 Bangladeshis and 1 Rohingya, in charge sheet in Assam human trafficking case

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) in its chargesheet has named 24 members of an international human trafficking syndicate who were involved in trafficking Bangladeshi and Myanmar Rohingyas to India using fake Indian identity documents. The accused named in the charge sheet include four Bangladeshi nationals and one Myanmar Rohingya.

The chargesheet was filed on Monday in Assam under various provisions of the IPC, the Foreigners Act and the Passport (Entry to India) Act, 1920 and the Passport (Entry to India) Rules, 1950 Filed before the NIA Special Court, State (Guwahati).

The NIA initially arrested 29 people in multiple raids conducted at 39 locations in Tripura, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir.

West Bengal coordinates with state police agencies.

A large amount of incriminating evidence was seized during the raids, including forged Indian identity documents, bank documents and digital devices. Subsequently, based on investigative leads, four more accused were arrested in Tripura, taking the total number of arrests to 33.

The case was initially registered by the Assam police against some anti-social elements under the Passport Act, 1967, after credible information emerged that an organized human trafficking syndicate was involved in trafficking Bangladeshi nationals and Myanmar Rohingyas using forged documents to India for carrying out anti-social activities. Indian events. The NIA later took over the case and re-registered it as RC-01/2023/NIA/GUW.

Investigations by the National Intelligence Agency have revealed that international human trafficking syndicates are active along the India-Bangladesh international border in Tripura, Assam, West Bengal and other areas. These groups frequently trafficked Rohingya and Bangladeshis and prepared fake Indian identity documents to place them across the country.

The network also has links to facilitators and traffickers operating in other parts of the country and across the border as part of a larger network engaged in human trafficking through the India-Bangladesh border. The investigation further revealed that criminal gangs on both sides of the border conspired and offered inducements to obtain the consent of trafficked persons. Based on the findings, the accused would prepare forged Indian identity documents and arrange reservations, accommodation, transportation and further travel to the interior.

Traffickers exploit their victims, placing them in various unorganized sectors for a pittance and placing them across the country. Trafficked girls and women are subject to various other forms of exploitation, including fraud and deception, and some Rohingya women are sold into marriage to older men.

According to the investigation, the Indian identity documents were obtained by Bangladeshi nationals using false or forged supporting documents and certificates provided by local officials in connivance with local agencies.