Hyderabad: Cops fail to check old city traffickers

Hyderabad: South zone police have cracked down on some visa agents but have to still hunt down many more who traffick women and girls to the Middle East. Police usually book a cheating case against the agents when the victim's family lodges a complaint.

But this weak charge cannot hold the offenders in prison. They come out and continue to trap victims and traffic them. A much more severe charge needs to be slapped on these inhuman offenders.

A challenge local police face is how to bring back the victim, since she is in another country. The police often arrests the local agent in the city and pressurises him to get the victim released.

"We have brought back victims in this way. But this method will not work all the time," said a South Zone police official.

There are also risks involved in such tactics. The employer could harm the victim. "The employer can keep some of his valuables with the victim and then blame her so she is caught up in a legal case for theft. The victim may then end up in jail for many years. He could also manipulate the situation using his influence,” said a senior South Zone officer.

Since the women are not registered with the Indian Embassy in Saudi, it's difficult for police to proceed officially.

Clearly a lot more needs to be done by police and government authorities and the embassy to rein in these unlawful agents and stop this trafficking in women who are poor and vulnerable.