Nawanshahr, August 6
The police today conducted unsuccessful raids to arrest the father-son duo, alleged to be the main agents who operate the human trafficking racket, on their ‘dera’ at Bhin village.

Mr Tarlochan Singh, a farmer of Karnana village, who had rescued and given shelter to 14-year-old Asnita, one of the tribal girls who was allegedly raped by the son of the agent, was pressurised “politically” to dissuade him from accompanying the girl to the local Civil Hospital where her examination was to be conducted.

The examination was delayed due to unavailability, of culture tubes and as Asnita (14), who was allegedly sold for Rs 2,000, was not accompanied by any woman constable. These facts were corroborated by Dr Dayal Sarup of the hospital.

Police parties led by the Nawanshahr SHO raided the ‘dera’ of Jagdish, an alleged agent who used to ‘sell’ tribal girls from Jharkhand in the Doaba area along with his son Jogi, but it failed to arrest them. The duo were booked on charges of kidnapping and raping. The police raided the ‘dera’ twice but found that there was no male member in the house.

“Women, who were present in the ‘dera’ told us that both had gone to Chandigarh,” said Ms Neerja Voruvuru, SSP. She said police parties had been sent to various suspected hideouts of the accused. She said the police had specific information about the activities of the human trafficking gang and planned to wait till arrival of the next big ‘consignment’ of boys and girls.

Mr Tarlochan Singh said he delayed his programme to take Asnita to the hospital as he apprehended that agents were keeping tabs on his activities.