Srinagar, Oct 19: Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir on Monday organised a Union Territory-level conference on Anti-Human Trafficking (AHT) at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, to strengthen institutional mechanisms to combat human trafficking, improve coordination among enforcement agencies and promote a victim-centric approach to investigation, rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration.
As per a statement, the event was organised on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Police Headquarters, J&K, the one-day conference brought together police officers, judicial representatives, government departments, social welfare officials, civil society organisations and students to deliberate on emerging challenges and effective strategies for preventing and investigating human trafficking.
The conference was inaugurated by Inspector General of Police, Crime J&K, Sarah Rizvi, IPS, while Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, IPS, Chief Executive Officer of JK4C, attended as the Guest of Honour.
The event was attended by the DIG-P and all Senior Superintendents of Police (SSsP) of Crime Branch J&K, members of the judiciary, officials of the Social Welfare Department, including Child Development Project Officers (CDPOs), police nodal officers of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) across Jammu and Kashmir, and students from different schools and colleges.
Addressing the gathering, IGP Crime J&K Sarah Rizvi underscored the need for a comprehensive, coordinated and victim-centric response to human trafficking, emphasising that the effectiveness of anti-trafficking efforts must be assessed not merely by the number of victims rescued or cases registered, but also by the safety, dignity, access to justice, rehabilitation and sustainable reintegration ensured for survivors.
She stressed that protecting victims and addressing their long-term needs must remain central to anti-trafficking interventions. She also drew attention to emerging forms of exploitation, particularly cyber-enabled trafficking and cyber slavery, and highlighted the need to strengthen institutional capacities to respond to the increasingly complex nature of such offences.
The technical sessions featured expert resource persons who shared insights into the legal framework governing human trafficking, evolving patterns of exploitation, investigative challenges, judicial intervention and mechanisms for victim identification, protection and rehabilitation.
Dr. Aneeda Jan, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Kashmir, delivered a session titled “Human Trafficking: Legal Framework, Emerging Trends and Challenges”. She discussed relevant legal provisions, emerging patterns of exploitation and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in detecting, investigating and prosecuting trafficking offences.
Her presentation highlighted the importance of legal awareness, effective investigation and an understanding of changing trafficking methods to strengthen the response of enforcement agencies and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.
Dr. Savita Nayar, Professor at Jammu University, spoke on “SOP on Missing Persons and Criminal Law and Judicial Intervention with Regard to Human Trafficking in India”. Her session focused on the importance of prompt and systematic action in missing-person cases, effective coordination among investigating agencies and the role of criminal law and judicial intervention in protecting victims and securing justice.
The discussion highlighted the need for timely follow-up in missing-person cases and coordinated action by relevant authorities to identify potential trafficking situations and prevent further exploitation.
Dr. Farooq Ahmad Khan, Programme Manager, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), Social Welfare Department, delivered a session on “Victim-Centric Approach: Identification, Rescue, Rehabilitation and Reintegration”.
Addressing another emerging dimension of the problem, Kamal Pal Singh Malhotra, IPS, SSP JK4C, spoke on “Cyber Slavery”, drawing attention to the growing role of digital platforms and technology-enabled exploitation in trafficking-related offences.
He highlighted the need to strengthen cyber investigation capabilities, improve digital evidence collection and promote closer coordination among agencies to detect and investigate offences involving online recruitment, exploitation and other technology.
