JOWAI/SHILLONG: The West Jaintia Hills police have made two more arrests in connection with the trafficking case in the district.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Macjoel Marngar, who is heading the special investigation team in this regard, told the media on Monday that the arrests were made based on the statement of the rescued minor girls.
“We are ashamed to inform you that one of the accused arrested on Sunday was a police person working as a fireman in the Jowai Fire Service Station. His name is Khroolang Nongrum (41). The other person, Lekipaia Phawa (31), was arrested on Saturday from his residence at Riatsasim in Jowai. He is the son of a police officer,” said Marngar.
The district police have so far arrested 12 persons in connection with the alleged human trafficking case which was busted last Monday at Mihmyntdu village where nine minors were rescued.
SP Lakador Syiem said OCs of women police stations and Jowai police station have been excluded in the SIT because “they have to perform several official duties”. Instead, two more sub-inspectors and two women sub-inspectors have been included.
The SIT, headed by the DSP and assisted by another DSP and an additional SP, was constituted for the trafficking case.
“We are still taking steps to book the accused under appropriate laws,” Marngar said.
Those who have been arrested are Nikil Sarkar (30) of Muktapur, Victoria Shylla (34) of Mootyrshiah village, Dapynbiang Sten (26) of Kyrwen village, Riwadakaru Dann (22) of Ladthadlaboh Jowai, Kristina Lyngdoh (18) of Sohkymphor village (East Jaintia Hills), Sanwaki Dkhar (28) of Khliehiongriang Jowai, Lemi Ryngkhlem (20) of Demthring, Elison Dkhar (24) of Demthring, Emryngkatmitre Dkhar (20) of Demthring and Prosperity Talang (22) of Demthring, besides the two held recently.
Meanwhile, the Thma U Rangli-Juki (TUR), in a statement expressed its concern over the existence of a sex-trafficking ring in Jaintia Hills.
“This ring which involved trafficking of children and young girls wouldn’t have functioned without the protection and patronage of powerful people. It is commendable that the government has set up an SIT to investigate this but TUR demands that the SIT be free from political interference and influence,” said the organisation.
TUR also demanded that the names of customers and traffickers and all those involved should be put in the public domain. The young people who were trafficked also need protection and counselling at the earliest, it added.