Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh Police’s Namsai unit arrested the suspected fifth key operative of an organised human‑trafficking syndicate and rescued 12 people on Sunday.Sunday’s operation takes the total number of people rescued from the clutches of the syndicate to 51.The syndicate allegedly preyed on economically vulnerable families across the state and neighbouring Assam, senior officials said on Sunday.Investigators describe the racket as a well‑structured network that lured poor parents with promises of education and care for their children, only to place them illegally as domestic workers or hotel staff. Financial transactions ranging between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000 per child were conducted among handlers, intermediaries and parents, revealing a pattern of exploitation disguised as social assistance.The latest breakthrough came with the arrest of Ema Loyi, a resident of Kaba village in Namsai, who allegedly acted as a local facilitator for the syndicate.Detailing the scale of the operation, Namsai SP Sange Thinley said relentless field tracking and cross‑border intelligence‑sharing led to a dramatic surge in recoveries. What began with the rescue of 19 children during the initial crackdown soon expanded to 38, before reaching the current tally of 51, which includes four adults.The operation is being spearheaded by deputy SP Kengo Dirchi, working closely with District Child Protection Unit (DCPU), Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Child Helpline networks.“Statements of the rescued minors have been recorded before a judicial magistrate under Section 183 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS),” SP Thinley said, adding that forensic and financial‑crime teams are now tracing money trails to expose every link in the chain.The case originated on Aug 17, 2026, following a formal complaint by CWC. Initial raids yielded 19 child rescues across Mechuka, Aalo, Pasighat, Naharlagun, Itanagar and Longding, along with the arrest of three female brokers — Gumnya Kochung, Marta Ete and Neha Gerory. As operations expanded into Assam, police apprehended a fourth suspect, Rupali Padung, before nabbing Loyi this week.Police emphasised that the privacy and dignity of the minor victims remain strictly protected as search operations continue to trace remaining victims and dismantle the entire network.
