Imphal: A combined law enforcement and social welfare operation has dismantled an inter-state human trafficking syndicate operating between Manipur and New Delhi, following the extradition and remand of a key suspect.
Police arrested Ningombam Ronaldo, 27, a resident of Imphal West district, in Ghitorni, New Delhi, on September 16 and produced him before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Imphal East, on September 18, where he was remanded to police custody until September 21.
The crackdown was initiated after a September 9 complaint filed at the Imphal East Women Police Station regarding the suspected trafficking of six young women from the Keibi area in Imphal East district.
A subsequent raid on September 10 at a residence in Keibi Kumuda Leikai led to the rescue of an 18-year-old woman and the arrest of accomplices Chandam Tababi and Khumanthem Nanao, effectively disrupting plans to transport two victims to the national capital.
Subsequent interrogations led to the arrest of a local salon operator, Gaitri, who confessed to recruiting women under the pretext of hospitality and beauty parlour employment on behalf of an absconding kingpin identified as Bony.
According to the state prosecution, the syndicate lured victims with false job promises before confining them in Delhi hotels for sexual exploitation. Preliminary interrogations revealed that Ronaldo harbored the victims and received financial kickbacks from Bony.
The prosecution submitted that the network has already trafficked four to five women to Delhi.
While Ronaldo remains in custody to facilitate the tracking of the kingpin, the three co-accused continue to serve a 10-day remand, and the rescued victim has been placed under the care of the One Stop Centre in Porompat, Imphal East district.