Trafficking of Women to Oman: SP briefed CM of SIT progress, One accused arrested, Look-Out Circular against other
Trafficking of Women to Oman: SP briefed CM of SIT progress, One accused arrested, Look-Out Circular against other
Ferozepur, July 4, 2023: In the on-going investigation in the case of trafficking of women to Oman, one accused named Rishi Thapar has been arrested while Look-Out Circular (LOC) against another accused Seema Thapar is being issued, said Randhir Kumar, SP Ferozepur heading the Special Investigating Team (SIT). He has also briefed the CM Punjab Bhagwant Mann in the presence of DGP Punjab Gaurav Yadav in this regard.
As per police orders, the SIT will probe the complaints of women regarding their trafficking from India on a false promise of providing them a decent employment and salary, being held captive and left to face starvation and struggle for survival. The SIT has been formed under the purview of Mission Hope, recently launched by Vikramjit Singh Sahney Raja Sabha MP for rescuing stranded girls from Oman. Sahney also heads World Punjabi Organization (WPO) who has assisted the victims in registering FIRs at various police stations and rescuing stranded girls.
The trafficking process has occurred between March 7 and May 24, and an FIR was registered on 16 June 2023, at Nakodar Sadar, booked under Sections 370, 370-A, 420, 406 of IPC 1860 and Section 13 of Punjab Travel Professionals (Regulation)Act 2014, on the complaint of a woman (name hide) against Seema and Rishi Thapar of Shahkot, Jalandhar. In the FIR it is alleged that Seema sold me in Muscat (Oman) under false pretences of high salary and mental torture and later on demanded Rs.2 lac for sending back to India.
The Punjab Police have set up a special investigation team (SIT) to problethe cases of illegal trafficking of women to Middle-East countries, 15 of whom recently returned from Oman during the last week.
The SIT has been formed on the orders of Director Bureau of Investigation, LK Yadav, While IG, Ludhiana range, Kaustubh Sharma has been appointed as the nodal officer to ensure hassle-free lodging of the FIRs in various districts across the state, Ferozepur SP Randhir Kumar will head the SIT.
Divulging with the modus operandi and the progress in the investigation so far Randhi Kumar, SP(D) posted at Ferozepur heading the SIT said the agents had promised work visas but were sending on tourist visas. At the same time, promising Dubai but sending Oman with a paying job with good working conditions but reality is low wages/no wages and bad working conditions.
He said, now asking huge and disproportionate sums of money for sending back to India if the person is not happy with work conditions, on the pretext to recover the money spent – a kind of bonded labour and modern slavery.
SP said, the sub-agents are getting commission for referring victims to the travel agents by targeting economically weaker section ladies for long working hours and tiring domestic work in Oman. I have briefed the Chief Minister in the presence of DGP Gaurav Yadad about the progress and as per his directions are more arrests and Look Out Circular for those accused outside India or trying to go out India are under process. However, further investigation is on and more facts are likely to come to surface.
