Odisha Police Launches Coordinated Offensive Against Human Trafficking
Bhubaneswar, October 24: In a decisive move to combat human trafficking, Odisha Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania inaugurated a state-level conference at Police Bhawan, Bhubaneswar, calling for unified action across institutions.
The DGP emphasized that trafficking is not merely a crime but a grave human rights violation affecting vulnerable populations across India.
The conference spotlighted the role of Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking Units (IAHTUs) and district labor officers in rescue and investigation efforts. Plans are underway to bolster IAHTUs with additional personnel, specialized training, and digital tools like tracking and analytics.
A key highlight was Operation Aneshwan, a statewide campaign that rescued 1,209 missing children and 6,667 missing women this year. The initiative will expand further in the coming months.
Experts including retired DGP P.M. Nair, Migration and Education Director Umi Daniel, and Supreme Court advocate Ravi Kant stressed the need for rehabilitation, legal support, and family reintegration. Cyber trafficking and digital platform misuse were also flagged by Deputy Commandant Sanjay Kumar from the Ministry of Home Affairs.
Amit Kumar Nag from International Justice Mission urged citizens and local organizations to play an active role in prevention. Senior officers Vinaytosh Mishra and IG Avinash Kumar addressed the gathering, which included IAHTU officials from across Odisha.
