The Impressive TimesNew Jalpaiguri – In a significant breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking, the Railway Protection Force (RPF), in coordination with Government Railway Police (GRP), rescued 56 young girls from the clutches of traffickers at New Jalpaiguri railway station on July 21, 2025. The operation was led by Lady Sub Inspector Sarika Kumari, acting on a vital intelligence tip-off.
The rescue occurred aboard Train No. 13245 DN, where the trafficked girls had been deliberately scattered across various coaches to evade detection. The accused — identified as Jitendra Kumar Paswan and Chandrima Kar — claimed the girls were being taken to Bengaluru for employment in mobile and automobile parts factories. However, upon questioning, the girls failed to provide any credible information about their journey or employment, and in many cases, even their parents were unaware of the details.
Disturbingly, the girls’ coach and berth numbers had been marked in ink on their hands — indicating a highly organized trafficking operation. Both suspects were arrested under legal provisions pertaining to human trafficking, and all the rescued girls were safely released after proper verification.
With over 13,000 trains and 7,500 stations catering to 23 million passengers daily, the Indian Railways remains a critical mode of transport — and a vulnerable target for traffickers. Women and children from marginalized regions are often lured under false pretenses and transported into exploitative industries including child labour, prostitution, and forced begging.
The RPF has stepped up its fight by evolving from a traditional security force into a strategic national stakeholder against trafficking. Its operations now blend surveillance, intelligence, rescue, and rehabilitation with increased cooperation from NGOs and civil police.
RPF’s focused mission began with Operation Nanhe Farishtey in 2020 — aimed at rescuing minors who were abandoned, trafficked, or in distress. Since its inception, the operation has saved over 64,000 children (43,493 boys and 20,411 girls). These rescues are followed by support via Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) and District Child Protection Units (DCPUs). The initiative is currently active at 135 major stations.
Building on this foundation, Operation AAHT (Action Against Human Trafficking) was launched in 2022. Under this operation, 750 dedicated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) now operate nationwide, executing intelligence-based surveillance and rescues in coordination with partner organizations.
Strategic Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with the National Commission for Women and Aarambh India have also strengthened RPF’s technical and rehabilitation capacity.
Modern human trafficking requires modern countermeasures. The RPF has embraced AI-powered facial recognition, CCTV monitoring, and data analytics to spot suspicious travel patterns. Railway staff including ticket checkers, porters, and onboard crew are trained to detect red flags.
Moreover, reports via Twitter, WhatsApp helplines, and crowd-sourced alerts have enabled timely interventions. Trains like the Gorakhpur-Secunderabad Express, Rajendranagar-Ajmer Express, and New Jalpaiguri-Amritsar Express are now under continuous surveillance due to their frequent use by trafficking networks.
Between 2021 and mid-2025, RPF rescued 2,912 victims, including over 2,600 minors and 264 adults. During the same period, 701 traffickers were arrested. Additionally, over 580 illegal immigrants from countries like Bangladesh and Myanmar, many victims of trans-border trafficking, were identified.
Key trafficking routes across Muzaffarpur, Katihar, Secunderabad, and Ajmer have been disrupted through continuous surveillance and collaborative policing.
Understanding that rescue alone is insufficient, the RPF has initiated public awareness drives involving posters, street plays, audio broadcasts, and digital screens at stations. The slogan “Stop Trafficking: Because Every Child Deserves to Be Free” is part of an effort to transform railway stations into zones of collective vigilance.
Helplines such as 1098 and 112 are prominently displayed and promoted for immediate reporting, while community sensitization through schools and NGOs strengthens prevention at the grassroots level.
As the world marks World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the rescue at New Jalpaiguri is a poignant reminder of both the scale of the crisis and the strength of institutional resolve. RPF’s integrated, tech-savvy, and human-centric strategy exemplifies what it takes to dismantle one of the world’s most insidious criminal enterprises.
Yet, the battle is far from over. Traffickers continue to adapt and exploit new vulnerabilities. The fight demands continued vigilance, inter-agency collaboration, and above all, public awareness.
Because safeguarding lives isn’t just the duty of the RPF — it’s a shared national responsibility. And every life rescued brings India one step closer to a future free from exploitation.
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