Four Minors Rescued in Assam After Being Lured by Job Offers on Social Media
Rescue Operation in Guwahati
The accused have been identified as Adam Tani and Bikash Borang, both from Lakhimpur.
Guwahati/Behali, Nov 5: In a concerning incident, four minors from Behali in Assam's Biswanath district were rescued in Guwahati after allegedly being enticed through social media with false job promises. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with this case.
The group, consisting of three girls and one boy, reportedly left their homes without notifying their families after being approached via social media.
According to police reports, a team successfully located and rescued the minors in Guwahati on Wednesday.
The suspects have been identified as Adam Tani and Bikash Borang, both hailing from Lakhimpur.
Behali Police initiated a case, numbered 149/26, upon receiving alerts that several minors had departed from their homes in search of work.
“Following the investigation, a team led by SI Garima Pegu was dispatched to Guwahati, where we managed to rescue four children. We later discovered that Adam Tani had allegedly contacted and lured them. He was the first to be arrested, followed by Bikash Borang as the inquiry progressed,” stated Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Asif Ahmed.
Initial investigations suggest that the minors were misled with offers of caretaker positions at various sites, purportedly associated with a healthcare NGO.
Authorities indicated that the suspects had promised attractive salaries to the minors.
“We are probing whether this incident is linked to human trafficking. The details will become clearer as the investigation unfolds,” Ahmed remarked.
The SSP emphasized that the minors were students and questioned the validity of the employment claims related to healthcare.
“They were misled with job offers at an NGO under the guise of healthcare, yet they lack the necessary training. These are school-going children; what role could they possibly fulfill in healthcare? Proper training is essential to work in such fields. These claims are unfounded,” he added.
Authorities are now examining how the minors were approached, the specifics of the job offers, and whether there are broader trafficking implications.
Ahmed also urged parents and youth to be vigilant when responding to job offers or other communications received through social media.
“Social media has both positive and negative aspects. We encourage individuals to embrace the positive while steering clear of the negative. We plan to initiate another awareness campaign on this matter,” he concluded.
The police's awareness initiative will persist to avert similar occurrences in the future.