Massive spurt in trafficking along Nepal-India border

A "massive" spurt in human trafficking instances in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Nepal has prompted security agencies to issue an alert along the open India-Nepal border.

The Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), mandated to guard this 1,751km long frontier and also collect intelligence on suspicious activities, has apprehended about 50 young girls and boys who were allegedly being trafficked along this border after March 25, the day when the strong earthquake hit Nepal and eastern parts of India.

The SSB has caught about 15 suspected traffickers in less than a month's time — 10 Indians and five Nepalese — who were making these young boys and girls cross the border illegally, which the security agencies believe could be for a variety of purposes like indulging in flesh trade, forced labour, beggary and illegal working as domestic helps among others.

They suspect that some of them may be victims of the quake and local police of these areas are carrying out investigation in these cases.

"We are witnessing a massive spurt in trafficking incidents along the Nepal border post the quake. The numbers have drastically shot up. Our units, especially along areas where Bihar and Uttar Pradesh touch the border, are apprehending an increasing number of young boys and girls from both identified crossing routes and illegal tracts.

A report prepared in this regard reveals that a large number of alleged trafficking victims were apprehended by SSB personnel along Raxaul and Jogbani in Bihar, Rupaidiha and Mahrajganj in Uttar Pradesh and Jhulaghat in Uttarakhand.

Among those apprehended by the force, 48 are boys and 14 females who are in the age group of 10-20 years of age.

The report reveals that trafficking incidents started to rise from around May 2, about a week after the quake.