The Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) along with the Pune Police on Thursday busted a major cross-border trafficking racket beingoperated in Pune, with women being trafficked from tribal-dominated districts in Andhra Pradesh. While the exact number of those arrested will be finalised only after further investigation, Andhra Pradesh Superintendent of Police Sumita B told The Indian Express that at least 10 traffickers and 40 victims have already been taken into custody.

Based on complaints received from victims in the AP districts of Anantapur, Chittur, and Kadappa who had escaped from brothels in Pune, the Andhra Pradesh CID tipped off local police as well as NGOs. Simultaneous raids were then conducted at various locations in the city’s Budhwar Peth area on Thursday afternoon, and at least 100 women were arrested. Some of those from states other than AP were released. The victims, including six minors, will now be taken back to AP for counseling, while the accused will be produced before court on Friday. “These arrests are part of a continuous exercise in various cities, involving the transport of minor and major girls across the AP border. There are many instances of girls who have been brought by their parents or relatives, who are in turn often tricked by the agents here. These trafficking operations have been going on for a minimum of two years, going up to even 20 years in some cases,” Sumita said.

CID officials said the girls mostly hailed from economically backward tribal areas of Andhra Pradesh. “The racket is operated across various cities, but Pune has the highest number of trafficking cases from Andhra Pradesh,” a female official from the CID said. Detailed counseling will now be given to the victims in Andhra Pradesh. “The AP government has many schemes to rehabilitate those victims of the sex trade who express interest for the same. Apart from Rs 10,000 in cash that is given to each victim, housing and employment is also provided to them,” Sumita said.