HYDERABAD: Telangana recorded the highest number of human trafficking cases in the country in 2024, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report.The state accounted for 423 of the 2,135 trafficking cases registered across India, nearly 19.8% of all cases nationwide. This means one in every five trafficking cases reported by Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) in India came from Telangana.Maharashtra recorded 337 cases, followed by Andhra Pradesh (159), Odisha (141), and Bihar and Uttar Pradesh with 138 cases each.Telangana also reported a trafficking crime rate of 1.1 cases per lakh population, far above the national average of 0.2. Among major states, Telangana recorded the second highest trafficking rate in India after Tripura, which reported 1.5 cases per lakh population.The NCRB data shows that women and girls formed the majority of victims in Telangana. Of the 812 rescued victims in the state, 790 were females, accounting for over 97% of all victims rescued during the year. Only 22 male victims were rescued.Sexual exploitation remained the main form of trafficking in the state. Of the 812 rescued victims, 770 were trafficked for sexual exploitation and prostitution. Forced labour accounted for only 17 victims, while other forms such as forced marriage and begging remained low.The report also flagged concerns over child trafficking. Of the 814 trafficking victims identified in Telangana in 2024, 49 were minors, most of them girls.Telangana registered the highest number of cases (236) under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (earlier IPC Section 370), which deals with human trafficking. The state also recorded a high number of cases (130) related to exploitation of trafficked persons under Section 144 BNS/370A IPC.The state reported strong policing indicators. Telangana police arrested 1,212 persons in trafficking-related cases during 2024, the highest in the country. Police also chargesheeted 1,010 accused persons and recorded a chargesheeting rate of 99%, higher than the national average of 90.8%.However, convictions remained poor. Telangana recorded only two convictions in trafficking cases during 2024, while 106 accused were acquitted or discharged. The conviction rate stood at just 1.9%, below the national average of 7.3%.The NCRB figures indicate that while Telangana is reporting and investigating a large number of trafficking cases, convictions in courts continue to remain a major challenge.
