Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh: Namsai police have rescued 19 children from various parts of Arunachal Pradesh and arrested three alleged facilitators in an investigation into a suspected inter-district child trafficking and exploitation network, officials said on Tuesday.
Operation covers six districts; probe placed under SIT
The minors were recovered from Mechuka (Shi-Yomi), Aalo (West Siang), Pasighat (East Siang), Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding following an operation launched after a complaint was filed by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Namsai, on August 17. Given the cross-district nature of the matter, the Namsai Superintendent of Police constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to handle the case.
Senior officers said the SIT is being supervised by SP Sangey Thinley, with Deputy SP (Headquarters) Martin Ratan assisting work on the ground. SDPO Kengo Dirchi has been named the investigating officer and is leading efforts to establish the chain of custody and the network’s reach.
Allegations and modus operandi under scrutiny
According to the investigating officer, the preliminary probe indicates that economically vulnerable families were approached with assurances of improved education, care and upbringing for their children. The children were then allegedly sent to distant locations and placed with different persons.
"A majority of the recovered children are below eight years of age, with the youngest reportedly around three years old," SDPO Kengo Dirchi said.
Police said suspected monetary transactions ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹50,000 per child have surfaced in certain cases. The investigating team is examining whether any payments were made to parents or guardians and is analysing bank records, call logs and other digital evidence to map the network.
Three arrested; roles being investigated
Khonsa police have arrested Gumnya Kochung, Marta Ete and Neha Gerory, who have been named by investigators as alleged facilitators or brokers. The individual circumstances and precise roles of the three are being examined independently as part of the ongoing inquiry, officials said.
Police indicated some of the rescued children were reportedly engaged in domestic work and hotel-related duties at the locations where they were placed. Statements from the minors have been recorded before a magistrate as part of the legal process.
What investigators are doing now
The SIT has been tasked with:
- Analysing financial transactions that may indicate payment trails;
- Reviewing digital evidence, including call records and messaging data;
- Tracing and identifying other children who may have been procured or placed through intermediaries;
- Coordinating with district police units where children were recovered.
Officers appealed to members of the public to come forward with any information about children who might have been placed under similar circumstances, saying community leads could help identify additional victims and facilitators.
| Recovered From (District/Town) | Notes |
|---|---|
| Mechuka (Shi-Yomi) | Child recovered during operation |
| Aalo (West Siang) | Child recovered during operation |
| Pasighat (East Siang) | Child recovered during operation |
| Naharlagun / Itanagar | Children recovered during operation |
| Longding | Child recovered during operation |
Legal and welfare steps
The case was formally registered at Namsai Police Station on August 17 following the complaint from the CWC. Officials said rescued children are being processed through child welfare procedures; their statements were recorded before a magistrate and welfare agencies have been engaged to provide immediate care and rehabilitation as the probe continues.
Investigators emphasised that while some monetary exchanges have been detected, the exact nature of payments and whether parents or guardians were knowingly complicit are matters under independent verification.
Police warned that the probe remains active and that more arrests and further recoveries cannot be ruled out as digital and financial leads are analysed.
Authorities asked anyone with relevant information to contact the Namsai police control room or the SIT, stressing that timely community reporting could aid speedy identification of other victims and those responsible for recruitment and placement.
