INDIAN COPS GEARED TO BATTLE HUMAN TRAFFICKING

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, June 29 (Bernama) -- Termed a leading source, transit and
destination country for human trafficking in South Asia, India has armed its
police force with standard operating procedures (SOP) to combat the scourge.

The police have embarked on battling the social evil within its borders and
across the region where thousands of women and children are trafficked annually
and forced into bonded labour or sexual exploitation.

"Human trafficking has become the third largest (industry) after drugs and
arms smuggling.

"Indians are trafficked to the Middle East and many trafficked to the
US (United States) and Europe for labour," Ajay Maken, Minister of State for
Home Affairs, told the media during the launch of the SOP manual Monday.

The nearly 200-page manual was prepared by Uttar Pradesh Deputy
Inspector-General of Police Anju Gupta, a leading expert in the field of human
trafficking, and commissioned by the International Organisation for Migration
(IOM).

The SOP would help Indian police, working across the country with different
complex state laws, to conduct systematic investigations of human trafficking,
protection of victims, witness protection measures and guidance on cross-border
investigations.

"The IOM and the Indian Government initiated this model SOP for the police
and other stakeholders. We need to create awareness on the nature of
trafficking, investigation, rehabilitation and repatriation of the victims,"
said Maken.

Although hard statistics are not available to reveal the magnitude of human
trafficking around the global due to the clandestine nature of the operation,
international agencies estimate that annually, about 700,000 people fall victim
to this crime.

It is described as the fastest growing industry in the world with estimated
revenue of between US$5 billion and US$9 billion (US$1 = RM3.5) a year.

-- BERNAMA