In a significant crackdown, the CBI, supported by CRPF personnel, raided Haji Nagar in the Railpar area under Asansol North police station jurisdiction and arrested a couple linked to a human trafficking syndicate.
The arrested individuals, Rani Khatoon and Mohammed Bilal, residents of Haji Nagar, were taken to Kolkata’s Nizam Palace for interrogation and later produced in court, with the agency seeking custody for further investigation.
Locals at Asansol North police station voiced concerns over ongoing human trafficking activities in the area, citing many missing girls over the years. The CBI alleges that the couple lured impoverished girls into marriages with purportedly ‘worthy’ men, only to sell them across different states.
One victim from Railpar was married off in Burdwan in 2024, then sold to another individual. After escaping her ordeal, she reported the crime to Raina police, which failed to act, prompting her to seek justice through the Calcutta High Court, leading to the CBI probe.
Based on her testimony, the CBI is now investigating the broader racket to identify more members and uncover the extent of trafficking in the region.
