In a significant development, the Itanagar Police dismantled an interstate child trafficking operation between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, rescuing three minor girls and apprehending six suspects. The investigation commenced after a seven-year-old girl was found injured and lost in Itanagar on February 7, 2026. She revealed having suffered abuse while being forced into domestic work, prompting police action. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) was notified, and the child received necessary psychological support.
Following a formal complaint from the CWC, the case was registered under various relevant laws, including the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 and the Child Labour (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 1986. Raids subsequently led to the rescue of additional minors and the arrest of individuals involved in trafficking, with evidence showing minors were sold through cash transactions lacking legal adoption processes.
The investigations uncovered troubling trends, such as children being deprived of education and rights while working under poor conditions. Shocking revelations included a five-year-old being sold for ₹12,000, with some accused being biological parents selling their children. Two children, including a 14-year-old boy missing since 2021, remain unaccounted for.
Police are actively working to trace missing children and expose the full extent of the trafficking network, which officials have classified as a severe violation of child rights. Those arrested include women involved in the sales. The rescued minors are now in designated shelter homes for their protection and rehabilitation.
