63 Bodo girls rescued from trains in Asom

Kokrajhar, July 24 (UNI) As many as 63 tribal girls have been rescued while being smuggled by trains in Asom since yesterday, exposing clandestine women trafficking in the region.

All Bodo Students Union (ABSU) secretary general Gautam Mushahary said its activists rescued some 60 girls yesterday and three others today from different outward bound trains.

The 60 Bodo girls, detected and rescued at Rangiya railway station yesterday, were mostly from Barpeta, Nalbari, Udalguri, Baksa and Kokrajhar districts.

Mr Mushahary said, ''After yesterday's operation, acting on a tip off, we rescued three girls from the down Dwarika Express. We made the train stop at Kokrajhar, though it has no stoppage here.'' One of the girls was from Gossaigaon while the other two were from Baksa district, he added.

The district adminstration and the police were present at the railway station at the time of the operation, Mr Mushahary said.

He said the rescue of Bodo tribal girls from trains bound to other states even on earlier occasions has led to questions on the safety of the girls.

These girls were lured with promises of jobs and money and often ended up in flesh trade, he added.

The ABSU demanded an investigation to expose the network behind the trafficking.

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