March 13, 2025: In a significant breakthrough, the Assam Police have dismantled an inter state human trafficking racket, rescuing two minor girls who were trafficked, sold and forced to marry older men in Rajasthan. The police have arrested Leela Ram, who paid Rs 4 Lakh to marry one of the girls, and are on the hunt for the prime accused, Rupali Dutta and Ganga Ganju, who are currently absconding.

The investigation began on January 24, when a tea garden worker reported the disappearance of his 15 year old daughter. Police discovered that another girl of the same age was also missing but returned home. The returned girl revealed that she and the other victim were approached by women social workers offering attractive jobs and income. The girls took a risk and fled home on January 5, only to be taken to Hyderabad and then Rajasthan, where they were forced to marry older men.

The police formed an investigation team and collaborated with the Rajasthan police to track down the traffickers. They traced the location of a phone number the second girl had called from and found her at Leela Ram’s home in a village near Jaipur. Ram was arrested and brought to Assam. The police have identified more people involved in the racket and are working to bring them to justice.