NIA arrests key accused in human trafficking case

A resident of the northeastern state of Tripura, Jalil Miah was arrested by the NIA team. The NIA had, in February, declared a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for information leading to the arrest of Jalil, who had absconded in the case, besides nine others.

Thirty-three people were arrested earlier in the case (RC-01/2023/NIA-GUW), which the NIA had taken over from the Assam Special Task Force (STF) which had initially registered an FIR on March 22, 2023 under various sections of IPC and Passport Act 1967. The NIA has so far indicted 24 accused.

Investigations revealed that Jalil was one of the main conspirators in human trafficking and a close associate of accused Jiban Rudra Pal alias Jibon alias Suman. He was also closely associated with two other fugitives, Juj Miah and Shanto, all from Tripura. Although Jalil managed to escape during the first operation on November 8, 2023, during which 29 accused were arrested, electronic devices and other incriminating documents seized from his home had highlighted his complicity.

The pan-India searches conducted by the NIA in November 2023 led to the seizure of a lot of incriminating data, including digital devices, as well as foreign currencies (Bangladeshi taka and US dollar), Aadhar cards, PAN cards, etc.

A subsequent crackdown on December 29 last year led to the arrest of four more defendants in the case, revealing a vast network of human traffickers. According to NIA investigations, a large number of Bangladeshi nationals and Rohingyas are trafficked to India every month through the porous areas of the India-Bangladesh border. They are then transported to different regions of the country, provided with false documents and forced to work.

The manhunt to find the other fugitives continues and investigations are underway to connect the missing links of this elaborate racket.