By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Authorities in a coordinated operation have rescued 115 individuals from Assam, including minors, who were reportedly trapped by a suspected trafficking network operating in Bihar.
Officials said on June 19 that nine people linked to the case have been arrested.
An officer from the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) said those rescued were allegedly misled with false assurances of government jobs and other employment opportunities.
Officials stated that the network mainly targeted low-income families living in regions along the Assam–Bhutan border.
The rescued group included 48 females, many of whom are minors.
The matter surfaced after several parents in Tezpur contacted the SSB after losing communication with children who had been taken away by suspected traffickers.
Acting on these complaints, the SSB joined hands with Bihar Police and other agencies to carry out a joint rescue operation. Based on intelligence inputs and local assistance, the team traced the suspects to Samastipur district.
All 115 victims were safely recovered during the operation, while nine suspected members of the trafficking group were detained.
Officials are examining whether the network has links to other similar cases.
The rescued persons have been shifted back to Assam and are undergoing counselling and rehabilitation before being reunited with their families.
Officials said the case is among the larger recent rescue operations involving victims from the state and noted that such incidents point to the risks of fraudulent job offers targeting vulnerable communities.
Security agencies have urged people to confirm job offers through official sources and report any suspicious recruitment activities without delay.
Authorities are continuing the investigation to trace others linked to the network and determine if there are additional victims.