In a significant development, Itanagar Police dismantled an interstate child trafficking ring between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, rescuing three minor girls and arresting six suspects. The investigation initiated on February 7, 2026, when a seven-year-old girl was discovered injured and alone in Itanagar and subsequently revealed severe abuse during counseling at a support center. She was identified as a trafficking victim brought from Assam for domestic work under harsh conditions, having escaped abuse days prior. A formal complaint led to Case No. 09/2026 being filed under multiple relevant legal provisions.
Raids resulted in the rescue of additional minor girls and the arrest of six individuals involved in trafficking, purchasing, and exploiting children. Notices were issued to three more individuals linked to the case. Investigators reported a structured trafficking operation that involved the sales of children through cash transactions without legal adoption, depriving them of education and basic rights. Shockingly, a five-year-old child was sold for ₹12,000, with some biological parents implicated in the sales.
The investigation also highlighted that multiple children from the same families were trafficked into various households, with two minors, including a missing 14-year-old boy from 2021, still unaccounted for. Ongoing efforts are dedicated to tracing these missing children, identifying more victims, and tracking financial activities associated with the trafficking network.
Officials condemned the case as a severe violation of child rights, emphasizing the connection between domestic child labor and trafficking. Among the arrested, several women were accused of selling and buying children; however, one suspect was later granted bail. The rescued minors have been placed in recognized shelter homes for their safety and rehabilitation.
