JALDHAKA HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL: Anti Human trafficking camp organised

KalimNews, Jaldhaka, 31 August 2012: For the first time an anti human trafficking awareness programme was organised by Jaldhaka HS School in collaboration with MARG Darjeeling and Darjeeling Police in Jaldhaka area near Indo Bhutan border of Darjeeling hills. Nirnay John Chhetri, Founding Secretary of Mankind in action for rural growth (MARG) and Robin Thapa, Circle Inspector of Darjeeling Police, Gorubathan were the resource person in the programme organised by Jaldhaka Higher Secondary School on 31st August 2012. The programme was organieed for the first time in the area in which school students representatives of local NGOs, SHGs and guradians in large numbers were present.

The first programme was held at Suruk Primary School of Jaldhaka in the morning. The programme conducted by T.B.Tamang, Head Master of the school was started with introductory speech by A.K.Rai, Asst Teacher of Jaldhaka HS School and Secretary of Kalimpong Press Club.

The second programme held in the afternoon at the Deorali Rangamanch, Jholung was started with introductory speech by Saraswati Chhetri , Asst Teacher in Charge of Jaldhaka HS School.

A crime patrol video film show based on the incident of a trafficking story of Darjeeling was made in the first half. Robin Thapa, CI stressed upon the alarming crime and the vulnerability of the youngsters to this crime as victims.

Citing different incidents he had handled himself he cautioned all and to be alert whenever strangers come to our places and our neighbours get opportunities to go to the cities for jobs. He warned all of misuse of mobile and facebook.

Thapa also stressed that people can and should approach police with information on trafficking and save lives of innocent victims.

Nirnay Chhetri of MARG giving illustrations of recent rescue operations of victim children trafficked by traffickers to the profession of prostitutes explained the modus operandi of the traffickers and the alluring role played by pimps and the agents in the crime.

Nirnay also disclosed that a girl student of a Darjeeling school could help the police and MARG to nab the traffickers and criminals involved in it as filmed in the crime patrol video film. The girl was awarded by the Governor of west Bengal and the state has recommended to the centre for President's award.

He also informed that the accused and arrested traffickers Marina Singh Rana alias Anjum Aunty 50 of Champasari, Siliguri, Amit Singh alias Muskan Rai 28 of Bijanbari, Rakesh Birsa 37, Devghan Rai 20 and Krishna Singh 27 were sentenced to 5 years imprisonment just a few days back. They were arrested in June 2011 when 8 girls from Darjeeling and one from Sikkim were rescued from a Banglore brothel in an joint rescue operation by Banglore police, Crime branch of Bangalore and MARG. The rescued girls narrated in their statement to Police that they were brought to work in beauty parlours but were forced to do prostitution.

Nirnay invited people to help the police in nabbing some of the absconding agents and traffickers so that no more people are lured and tricked to be the victims of trafficking.

Nirnay's MARG has a number of success story in rescuing girls from brothels and children from Hotels. He said that if information is received by the police or MARG and other NGO's working in this field the traffickers can be arrested in no time.He called upon all to call to ASP Kalimpong at 97330-08007 CI at 9749526075 or Police at 98002-25119, 98320-63381 or MARG at 9434811016, 9868617783.

Keeping in view of some cases of trafficking and missing girls from the Jaldhaka area the programme was organised for the awareness of the people of the area. Mr. A.K. Rai the programme coordinator told KalimNews that it was resolved that some unsolved previous cases will be reopened with the help of police and NGOs and possibly the CBI.
Some students and guardians after the programme told KalimNews that they were really enlightened by the awareness programme and hearing the girls story are inspired to be courageous to nab the criminals and alert all.
Programme in Suruk School co-organised by Jaldhaka HS School and Suruk Primary & Suruk Jr H School.