14 May,2009 01:38 PM IST | | PTI
With a view to tackle human trafficking cases effectively, Mumbai police has established an anti-human trafficking cell, which will exclusively deal with such offences.
"Going by the number of complaints received over the years, we felt the need of setting up a separate cell, the Anti Human Trafficking and Smuggling Cell (AHTSC), which will crack down such offences," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria said.
Such offence is registered against a person who tries to move out of the country using illegal means after he or she is denied passport due to various reasons, including legal hurdles.
"Such crimes are expected to rise in future. Hence a special team, which can exclusively concentrate on such cases was formed two months ago. It will work independently based on the tip-offs it receives," Maria, who took initiative to start the cell, said.
Since 2008, six major human-trafficking cases have been cracked in which at least 40 persons were held including different airline staffers, passport officers, agents and women from well-to-do families, who opted illegal means to fly out of the city.
The two-month-old cell busted a case in March this year by arresting four persons, including two Air India employees and an agent, Imtiyaz Raheem Maradia, who is involved in many such cases.
"The accused identified as Deepak Salve and Hemant Morade, employees of Air India, were arrested from the International Airport after our investigation revealed that the duo had illegally taken two women to US on their wives passports," said police inspector Nishikant Patil of the cell.
To start with, it will function from the Social Service Branch (SSB) at the police headquarters in south Mumbai. Deputy Police Commissioner Sheela Sail (enforcement), who is heading the team feels that there is a huge network for human-trafficking and a special attention is needed to get to the root of the case.
"The network of those involved in such crimes is very big. Sometimes, the investigators need to go to various cities to trace the accused," Sail said.
"Even though any such case is registered in a police station, policemen deployed at the station are already busy with local crime cases and they have to spare considerable time in maintaining law and order," Sail said adding that, "It becomes tough for them to crack such crimes."
"Hence, the separate cell established recently is now thoroughly investigating such cases," she said.
