Chhattisgarh Oppn alleges human trafficking in tribal areas

Raipur, July 12 (UNI) The Chhattisgarh Assembly's opposition Congress members today claimed that nearly 2,000 girls went ''missing'' from tribal areas in the state's northern part over the past three-and-a-half years.

The issue came up during Question Hour when Mr Nandkumar Patel (Cong) sought to know from Home Minister Ram Vichar Netam about the number of girls, including minors, who went missing from Raigarh and Jashpur districts during 2006 and 2007.

Mr Patel said that the government, in its reply, admitted that 193 girls were reported missing, FIRs registered in different police stations and 39 could not be traced.

Pointing out that such incidents were on the upward spiral in the northern tribal areas, he alleged that there were numerous cases in which police complaints were not lodged.

Mr Netam said that such cases were being reported from Jashpur, Raigarh and Sarguja districts as most of these girls were being taken to cities to work as domestic help.

Stating that a few NGOs were also involved in taking girls to cities, he added that several girls -- who were brought back -- told police that they voluntarily left home for work. ''Till now, police could not obtain any clue about any sex racket,'' he added.

Mr Netam said that a Missing Persons' Cell had been set up to investigate such complaints.

UNI