J&K: Police Bust Human Trafficking Gang In Kashmir's Budgam, 2 Women Among 3 Held

Jammu and Kashmir Police on Friday busted a human trafficking gang and arrested three people, including two women, in Central Kashmir's Budgam District. According to investigators, the group used to recruit girls from other states for exploitation. However, it is unknown whether the ladies were sexually exploited as well.

According to a police statement, a squad from Budgam police station raided numerous houses in hamlet Dulipora after receiving information about human trafficking in the district.

During the operation, police rescued 14 female victims (some of them were children) from the home of one of the accused, Shamim Ahmad Bhat, son of Ab Rehman Bhat. Raids were conducted in three villages, including Dulipora Parthan and surrounding areas.

According to a police spokesman, “a police team of police station Budgam raided a particular place in village Dulipora and rescued 14 women victims (including some minors) from the house of one namely Shamim Ahmad Bhat son of Ab Rehman Bhat resident of Dulipora Parthan and adjacent places” after receiving information about human trafficking in the district.

Shamim Ahmad and two other accused were arrested: Shagufta, the wife of Bashir Ahmad Wani, and Asmat, the wife of Shafiq Ahmad Wani, all of whom live in Dulipora Parthan.

FIR number 370/2022 was registered at Budgam Police Station under relevant parts of the law.

During the preliminary inquiry, it was discovered that the apprehended three accused persons were involved in human trafficking by obtaining the girls from various locations and exploiting them in the district of Budgam and other areas of the valley.

More arrests are expected as the case is being investigated further.

Meanwhile, the rescued human trafficking victims have been sent to Nari Niketan Rehabilitation Centre Chadoora, and the rehabilitation process has begun, according to the statement.