Bandipora police announced the arrest of five individuals, including a Rohingya man, in connection with an alleged human trafficking racket. The crackdown, led by the Hajin police station, followed a tip-off regarding the trafficking of Rohingya women from Bangladesh. These women were reportedly being coerced into marrying locals in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir for financial gain.
In an official statement on X, Bandipora Police confirmed the arrest of the five individuals involved in the trafficking operation. Among the arrested is Manzoor Alam, a Rohingya individual implicated in the trafficking network. The accused allegedly facilitated the trafficking of Rohingya women through Bangladesh and orchestrated their marriages with locals in exchange for monetary benefits.
Authorities anticipate unveiling further details regarding the case during a press conference scheduled for Tuesday. This arrest sheds light on the gravity of human trafficking issues and the exploitation of vulnerable individuals within the region.
The issues of illegal Rohingyas settlement in Jammu and Kashmir has been a hot topic of debate across India. While official number of Rohingya settlers in Jammu and Kashmir during the time of BJP-PDP coalition government was around 5,700, it was anticipated that the real number was significantly high. Reportedly, this number has further risen to approximately 13,700.
Nonetheless, the action comes after a panel was setup by the J&K Home Department to identify illegal foreigners residing the UT. Accordingly, the panel was directed to prepare a monthly report which would be presented to the Union Home Ministry.