Minors lured from Delhi, trafficked, forced into labour in J&K
Srinagar, Aug 28: In a major crackdown on human trafficking, Delhi Police has exposed a cross-border network that trafficked minors and vulnerable labourers from the capital to Jammu and Kashmir, where they were forced into unpaid domestic labour under inhumane conditions.
The investigation began in December 2024 after two minors went missing from Delhi’s Bhalswa Dairy area. The case gained momentum in June 2025, when a Jammu resident reported contact with a girl later identified as one of the missing children. Acting swiftly, police rescued her and her 13-year-old friend from a house in Jammu, where both were working as domestic help.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer Delhi) Hareshwar Swami, the girls were lured by traffickers from Old Delhi Railway Station and transported to Jammu before being placed in Srinagar households without pay. Their testimonies before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) revealed a well-organised trafficking racket operating between Delhi and J&K.
Police first arrested Suraj (31) from Begampur, Delhi, accused of transporting children on behalf of Delhi-based agents. His interrogation led to the arrest of Salim, who confessed to running a placement agency—V A Manpower Pvt Ltd—in Bemina, Srinagar.
“Salim admitted to trafficking nearly 500 individuals in the past two years, charging Rs 20,000–25,000 per male and Rs 40,000–60,000 per female victim,” DCP Swami said.
Subsequent raids in Srinagar led to the arrest of Md Talib, who carried a fake UP Police ID to evade checks, and Satnam Singh. Based on their information, police rescued another 16-year-old victim from Srinagar.
Officials said the syndicate used railway stations and social media platforms to target runaway minors and poor labourers. Victims were denied contact with families, forced into domestic work, and often subjected to exploitative conditions.
Police are now searching for four more suspects—Shahbaz Khan, Naresh, Rohit Pandey, and Sohail Ahmad—believed to be running another illegal agency, Sunaaz Placement Agency, in Srinagar.
“This is not just a Delhi issue. Our investigation shows Jammu and Kashmir, especially Srinagar, has become a hub for trafficked minors under the cover of domestic placement,” DCP Swami said, stressing the need for inter-state cooperation and tighter regulation of placement agencies.
