Kolkata: A joint operation by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) at Panitanki in north Bengal and anti-trafficking organization Kosi Lok Manch, successfully intercepted a cross-border human trafficking attempt on August 27, rescuing six females, including four minor girls, along the Indo-Nepal border. The victims were allegedly being trafficked to Nepal under the pretext of securing employment as dancers in a dance bar.The operation was carried out during routine border checks when SSB personnel flagged a group of six females traveling under suspicious circumstances alongside two adult males. Upon questioning, the accompanying men failed to establish any legitimate authority or legal guardianship over the minors.Sensing their acute vulnerability, border security officials and representatives from Kosi Lok Manch—a partner organization of Just Rights for Children—immediately intervened to prevent their border crossing.Subsequent counselling revealed that all six victims originated from Tripura. They disclosed that they had been assembled and brought toward the international border on the false promise of paid dance performances at various events in Nepal. However, none of the girls possessed concrete details regarding their final destination, the specific establishment where they were expected to work, or the duration of their stay.Further inquiries established that two of the females—one minor and one adult—had already been reported missing by their families in Tripura prior to the interception. A comprehensive investigation is currently underway to dismantle the broader network behind the operation.Highlighting the systemic nature of the threat, Rishi Kant, National Secretary of Just Rights for Children, emphasized the urgent need for heightened vigil along the international border.“Recent interventions by the SSB forces across the Indo-Nepal border have revealed a worrying trend of young girls being trafficked under the guise of employment or dance performances. These girls often lack clear information about their destinations, making the situation even more alarming and highlighting the urgent need for immediate intervention,” Kant said. He added that consistent, rigorous checks by security forces remain essential to break the organized crime networks operating across the border.
