Arunachal Pradesh Police Rescues 51 Victims from Child Trafficking Network

In a significant operation, police in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh, have rescued 51 individuals, including 47 children, from a child trafficking network. The investigation, which began following a complaint from the District Child Welfare Committee, has led to multiple arrests and ongoing efforts to uncover the full extent of the trafficking operation. Authorities are scrutinizing financial transactions linked to the case while ensuring the privacy and rights of the rescued minors are protected. This alarming case highlights the vulnerabilities faced by economically disadvantaged families and the deceptive tactics used by traffickers. Further operations are underway to locate any remaining victims and dismantle the trafficking network.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 27, 2026, 15:09 IST

Significant Child Trafficking Case Uncovered

Representational image.

Itanagar, Sep 27: Authorities in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh, have successfully located and rescued a total of 51 individuals, including 47 minors, linked to a child trafficking operation.

The investigation, initiated at the Namsai Police Station, centers around serious allegations of the illegal acquisition, trafficking, and placement of children from at-risk families.

As per Namsai's Superintendent of Police, Sange Thinley, ongoing investigations, thorough field checks, and collaborative efforts across multiple districts and states have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of rescued children, rising from 19 initially to 38, and now reaching 51, which includes four adults.

Law enforcement has apprehended a suspected facilitator named Ema Loyi, a resident of Kaba village, bringing the total arrests in this child trafficking case to five.

The investigation is being led by Deputy SP Kengo Dirchi, who is working closely with the District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), the Namsai Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Child Helpline, and various child protection organizations.

According to the SP, statements from the rescued minors related to the accused have been documented before a Magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).

Currently, police are examining the financial transactions and money trails associated with the case to determine the nature, intent, and scope of the financial dealings, as well as to assign individual responsibility.

To protect the privacy and rights of the minors involved, authorities have kept all identities and personal details confidential.

Further operations are in progress to locate any additional victims and to piece together the entire sequence of events, Thinley noted.

The inquiry into the child trafficking case, which was filed at Namsai Police Station on August 17, 2026, was prompted by a formal complaint from the District Child Welfare Committee regarding the illegal procurement and placement of minors from economically disadvantaged families.

During the initial operation, police rescued 19 children, primarily under the age of eight, from various locations throughout Arunachal Pradesh, including Mechuka (Shi-Yomi), Aalo (West Siang), Pasighat (East Siang), Naharlagun, Itanagar (Itanagar Capital Region), and Longding (Longding). The first three arrests made were of female facilitators involved in the network.

As the multi-district and inter-state tracing efforts extended into Assam and other regions, the total number of rescued individuals increased to 38, consisting of 34 children and four adults. During this phase, a fourth main facilitator was arrested for her alleged involvement in the transportation and illegal placement of victims.

Initial investigations indicated that the trafficking network preyed on vulnerable families with false promises of improved education and living conditions, with financial transactions ranging from Rs 10,000 to Rs 50,000 per child detected among intermediaries and parents.

Many of the rescued minors had been placed in domestic work or employed in hotels under these deceptive assurances.