THE HINDU

Date:06/11/2009

Andhra Pradesh - Eluru

3 towns gain notoriety for women trafficking

Staff Reporter

ELURU: Three towns -- Tanuku, Tadepalligudem and Kovvuru -- in West Godavari district earned notoriety for women trafficking, according to Superintendent of Police B. Balakrishna. Several victims were rescued from trafficking in these three towns during a series of raids by the police, the SP said at a meeting on women trafficking here on Thursday. He said 56 traffickers were arrested and 23 victims were sent to rescue homes for rehabilitation in the last two months.

Mr. Balakrishna said police were contemplating implication of the relatives of victims in cases relating to trafficking for reportedly abetting their kith and kin into the trade. In some cases, it was the parents and relatives who were selling their minor girls.