Sri Vijaya Puram, July 26: Efforts to strengthen the institutional response to human trafficking received renewed focus in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Police Training Institute (NSCBPTI), Sri Vijaya Puram, organised a state-level conference to enhance awareness, legal understanding and inter-agency coordination in tackling trafficking-related crimes.
The one-day conference on Anti Human Trafficking was organised on July 23 on the recommendation of the Women Safety Division, Ministry of Home Affairs. The programme was inaugurated by Geeta Rani Verma, IPS, Inspector General of Police (Training), Andaman and Nicobar Police, in the presence of Uma Shankar, Principal of NSCBPTI.
The conference featured technical sessions conducted by faculty members from Rashtriya Raksha University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The resource persons included Dr. Dimple Rawal, Associate Professor of Law; Dr. Jasbir Kaur Thandani, Assistant Professor of Law; Dr. Shahanshah Gulpham, Assistant Professor (Criminology); and Inspector Jyoti Chhatwal, Station House Officer, Anti Human Trafficking Police Station.
During the sessions, the experts discussed the role of the police and other stakeholders in preventing and combating human trafficking. They also explained the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to trafficking offences and highlighted the legal framework governing such crimes.
The discussions further examined different forms of exploitation associated with human trafficking, including commercial sexual exploitation, forced labour, organ trafficking and forced marriage. The speakers also underlined the role of non-governmental organisations and civil society organisations in prevention, rescue operations and the rehabilitation of victims.
The conference brought together officers and officials from multiple departments of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration, personnel from Central Police Organisations, including the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), and officers of different ranks from the Andaman and Nicobar Police.
According to the organisers, the programme recorded a total participation of 102 delegates. Of these, 55 attended the conference in person, while 47 joined the proceedings through virtual mode.
The conference formed part of ongoing efforts to build awareness, strengthen institutional capacity and improve coordination among enforcement agencies and other stakeholders involved in addressing human trafficking and related offences.
