Wednesday, February 14, 2007



Date:14/02/2007

URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/02/14/stories/2007021421060300.htm


Police to crack down on human traffickers
Special Correspondent
*Three-day 79th All-India Women's Conference inaugurated
*It is celebrating the 80th foundation day of its Hyderabad branch
*Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) to be increased to eight



ALL EARS: Woman leaders from across the country participating at the All India Women's Conference in the city on Tuesday. — PHOTO: P.V. SIVAKUMAR

HYDERABAD: The police will use the Andhra Pradesh Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Bootleggers, Dacoits, Drug Offenders, Goondas Act, 1986 and Andhra Pradesh Control of Organised Crime Act to bring human traffickers to book, said Director-General of Police M.A. Basith.
He was speaking after Governor Rameshwar Thakur inaugurated a three-day 79th All-India Women's Conference (AIWC) here on Tuesday.
Mr. Basith said they were working in coordination with police in other States, apart from planning to augment the number of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) from the present three to eight.
Raids by the State police in Bhiwandi and Yavatmal areas of Maharashtra had led to arrest of 136 offenders and release of 157 victims, including 26 minors, last month.
The Governor gave away lifetime achievement awards to Gool Chenoy, Gyan Astana, Sudha Ranganathan, Hemachandra and Anees Mahmood. He also released a souvenir.
A blot on society
Mr. Rameshwar Thakur said human trafficking was a blot on society and an insult to women that deserved to be condemned. He urged law enforcement agencies to go all-out to stamp out the menace, blaming the `inferior' status of women in education, socio-economic and political life for violence against them.
AIWC is celebrating the 80th foundation day of its Hyderabad branch.