BK Singh
Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh – In a swift operation, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) rescued several children from suspected traffickers aboard the Seemanchal Express at Prayagraj station. Acting on a tip-off, RPF personnel questioned the children, who repeatedly gave rehearsed answers.
One child, who appeared to be about ten years old, falsely claimed to be fifteen, while others said they were being taken to a madrasa or hired as Urdu teachers. During questioning, a child broke down in tears but calmed down after being told his parents were being contacted.
Initial investigation suggests a contractor had arranged jobs for the children, providing advance payments to their families. Most of the children belong to large, economically struggling families from Bihar. Authorities are tracing the network involved, and more arrests are expected.
This rescue mirrors a similar operation a year ago, when 93 children were saved from traffickers on the same train, emphasizing how railway stations often serve as crucial trafficking transit points.
Major Child Trafficking Cases in India
The Prayagraj incident is part of a grim national trend of child trafficking. Here are some key cases and patterns:
- Ameena Case (1991, Hyderabad) – A 10-year-old girl was sold by her parents to a 60-year-old Saudi man for $240, but was rescued mid-flight, sparking national outrage and anti-trafficking reforms.
- Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case (2018, Bihar) – Over 30 girls (aged 7–17) were sexually assaulted and trafficked from a government-run home, leading to a Supreme Court-monitored CBI probe.
- Baby Falak Case (2012, Delhi) – A toddler trafficked away from her family was found severely abused. Investigations uncovered a child trafficking racket.
- Nithari Serial Crimes (2005–2006, Noida) – Dozens of missing children were found to have been abducted, abused, and killed, exposing organized trafficking and organ trade.
- CBI Infant Trafficking Bust (2024) – Three newborns (aged 1.5 days to one month) were rescued from a network selling infants online for ₹4–6 lakh each, complete with forged documents.
- Mumbai Crime Branch Crackdown (2024) – A gang trafficking 14 infants over 18 months was dismantled. Seven accused, including a doctor, were arrested.
- Rajasthan–Madhya Pradesh Racket (2023) – Investigative reports revealed parents selling minor girls for ₹1.7–7 lakh under notarized “contracts” disguised as work agreements.
- Telangana Adoption Racket (2025) – Ten babies trafficked from Gujarat, Maharashtra, and other states were rescued; traffickers sold infants for ₹5–10 lak, bypassing legal adoption processes.
- Ghaziabad Trafficking Ring (2025) – A gang priced infants based on skin tone and gender, with fair-skinned babies sold for up to ₹5 lakh.
- Lucknow Syndicate (2025) – Girls were lured into trafficking and sold for forced marriages, with traffickers earning up to ₹80,000 per child.
- Nagpur Kingpin Arrested (2025) – A woman orchestrated kidnappings and sold a minor for forced marriage in Rajasthan for ₹2.5 lakh, facing POCSO charges.
National Patterns
- Source States: Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh remain India’s top child trafficking hubs (2016–2022).
- COVID Impact: Delhi witnessed a 68% spike in trafficking cases post-pandemic.
- Scale: From April 2024 to March 2025, 53,651 children were rescued from trafficking, labor, and kidnapping networks nationwide.
The Prayagraj rescue underlines a stark reality: trafficking networks exploit poverty, transportation systems, and weak enforcement to prey on vulnerable children. While law enforcement has intensified crackdowns, the recurring incidents at railway stations and across states highlight an urgent need for stronger surveillance, community vigilance, and victim support systems.
Suggested Hashtags
#ChildTrafficking #StopTrafficking #PrayagrajRescue #SeemanchalExpress #ChildSafety #HumanTrafficking #CBI #POCSO #WitnessTimes #ProtectChildren