Photo Courtesy: tripuratimes
Agartala: Sashastra Seema Bal agents rescued six girls, including four minors, during a trafficking bid near the India-Nepal border on Thursday. The rescue happened at 6:30 pm at the Old Bridge in Panitanki. Troops from the 41st Battalion intercepted the group during a routine check. They quickly alerted the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit and the Kosi Lok Manch NGO.
Authorities arrested two men for facilitating the crossing. They identified the suspects as 25-year-old Nirmal Debbarma from Tripura and 32-year-old Chinmay Basak from West Bengal. A joint interrogation involving the Intelligence Bureau confirmed the pair intended to transport the girls into Nepal. The victims come from various districts across Tripura.
The investigation points to a larger operation involving a manager at a Nepal-based bar. Officials identified a woman named Anna from Cooch Behar and Vicky Kaushik, the manager of Lotus Dance Bar in Biratnagar, as key organizers. Investigators claim Kaushik forced victims into specific roles. The official stated: "Kaushik forced the girls to dance at the bar and participate in other activities for customers."
Police took the victims to the Kharibari police station for counseling and plan to return them to their families. Agencies are currently hunting for Anna. Officials are also coordinating with Nepalese authorities to apprehend Kaushik. Cross-border movement remains a high security risk for the region.
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