Lucknow a transit point for human traffickers?

LUCKNOW: A

Tripura

woman was arrested by Lucknow

police

on charges of human trafficking and sent to jail on Thursday. The police have also launched a manhunt to nab two local aides of the woman.

A team of crime branch has also been asked to assist in the probe, considering that it could be an international human trafficking racket with Lucknow as a transit point. Police said Amna Begum of Tripura had offered Rs 20,000 salary to a 38-year-old woman Jalpa (name changed), of Dhalai in Tripura.

The victim was lured to work in Middle East by the accused. However, sensing foul play, the victim escaped from the clutches of the accused woman and her aides and approached the GRP at Charbagh railway station on Tuesday night after which the incident came to light.

“Jalpa was brought to Lucknow by the accused from Tripura last week. The victim said she was kept at a hotel and then sent for medical examination to a government hospital from where she escaped and reached Charbagh station. She approached some GRP personnel, who took her to

Asha Jyoti

Kendra and we were also informed,” said CO Krishnanagar Lal Pratap Singh. “As the victim was unable to speak proper Hindi or English, a Bangla translator were summoned after which we were able to communicate with her,” he added. In the meanwhile, Begum approached the Krishnanagar police. She first claimed that Jalpa was her relative. But when Jalpa began to nod her head and cried loudly, Begum claimed that Jalpa was to be given job in Middle East and she needs to go with her. When the police asked her to produce work permit, Begum said the papers were with her two aides — Asif and Aminuddin — of Luknow. “The photos of the two were also shown to Jalpa, who identified them and alleged that they had forcefully taken her to a hotel in Lucknow. When the police went to check at their addresses, they were found to be absconding. Hence,we arrested Begum,” added CO Krishnanagar.