Policy and legislation

The Kolkata Police has special sections under the ITPA, like the Petty Cases Act (explained in Section 3.2.1).

Prevention

NGOs carry out prevention work through awareness and empowerment programmes. The Police conduct Gender Sensitization Programmes in which people are informed about the problems related to trafficking.

Interception

The local police do the interception. The guilty are arrested under U/S 378/ 39 (IPC) and ITPA U/S 4,5,6,7.

The Kolkata Police has formed Kolkata Police Act Petty Case, in which the guilty is brought to the court, made to pay a fine and then released with a warning of being put behind the bars, in case the accused is found guilty again.

The police officials said that they have not faced any problems so far during interception.

The officials feel that the strategies adopted by the State, which complement ITPA, are enough to combat trafficking and did not suggest any changes to them.

 

Rescue

The local police and the Immoral Trafficking Section of the Detective Department, carry out the rescue operations. However, if the rescue operation has to be done outside the operational area of the local police station then the Detective Department contacts the police station, where raids have to be done and assists in the rescue operation.

Rehabilitation

The State Government assisted by the NGOs does the rehabilitation work. The police network with the local NGOs and the Government bodies and hand the rescued victims over to them.

Networking

The Police Department networks with the Immoral Trafficking Section of the Detective Department for rescue operations. They network with the State Government for rehabilitation of the rescued victims. They have also networked with SANLAAP, an NGO, for treatment of rescued girls and for providing them with shelter. The police also maintain an information network with the local clubs/ youth clubs.

 

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