18 locations in Srinagar searched in human trafficking case

Our Correspondent

Srinagar, February 15

The State Investigation Agency (SIA), Kashmir, on Thursday said it conducted thorough searches at 18 locations in Srinagar as part of its investigation into a transnational human trafficking case.

In a statement here, the agency stated that its special teams, aided by the Srinagar police, started the search operation in the early hours. Incriminating material and documents, such as identity cards, bank documents, and registers besides digital devices like mobile phones and computers, were seized from various HR consultancies. According to the SIA, the case pertains to the illegal trafficking of foreign nationals into the Indian territory, particularly from Myanmar and Bangladesh.

“Investigations reveal that vulnerable foreign nationals are trafficked into India under the guise of employment opportunities. Upon their transportation to Jammu and Kashmir, they are sold to fake human resource agencies/ consultancies, who further exploit them under the garb of job opportunities such as domestic helpers, maids and babysitters, often leading to sexual exploitation,” the agency stated.

“This nefarious scheme is part of a broader conspiracy hatched by international terrorist organisations, in connivance with notorious transborder human traffickers. These groups facilitate the infiltration of foreign nationals across international borders, concealing their original identities with forged Indian documents with an ultimate aim is to establish sleeper cells to aid, execute, or facilitate terrorist acts in the UT of J&K,” the statement added.

The SIA said, “The seized material will be meticulously examined.”

It said Thursday’s search operation marks the continuous pursuit of SIA in dismantling the terror ecosystem in Jammu and Kashmir.

Documents seized

According to the State Investigation Agency, it has seized incriminating material and documents, such as identity cards, bank documents and registers besides digital devices like mobile phones and computers.

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