Delhi: With the year drawing to a close, a significant development has been observed across the national capital: cases of human trafficking have seen a noticeable decline this year. The trend, reflected in official data, has raised questions about whether the decline in numbers signifies real progress or masks unreported cases.
According to data accessed by Patriot, 32 cases under Sections 370 (human trafficking) of the Indian Penal Code and 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) have been registered this year, up to October 30. By comparison, 110 cases were registered for these offences in 2023. This significant reduction has drawn attention from various stakeholders, including law enforcement and civil society organisations, who view it as a double-edged sword—while it signals progress, it also raises questions about the true scale of the problem.
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Similarly, the number of cases filed under the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956, has also dropped. This year, 29 instances have been reported, compared to 59 in 2023. These figures have been intermittently linked with the cases of women and minor girls reported missing in Delhi. While the decline in numbers this year hints at a potential shift in the law and order situation, NGOs have raised concerns about unreported cases and the evolving tactics of traffickers, which often escape traditional data metrics.
Reducing missing women cases
To provide further context, 12,744 cases of missing women and minor girls were reported this year, according to Zonal Integrated Police Network data as of December 19. This represents a sharp decline from the 14,386 cases reported in 2023, marking an 11.4% decrease. Police officials across Delhi have lauded this achievement, attributing it to intensified efforts, advanced tech nology, and more strategic interventions to curb such crimes.
Police have credited initiatives like heightened vigilance, improved tracking mechanisms, and active collaboration with NGOs for these results. “We have launched extensive efforts to combat human trafficking. With multiple teams addressing these cases, the ground level impact has been substantial. Increased surveillance and optimal use of CCTV cameras have made it much easier to track missing per sons and prevent trafficking,” said a senior police official.
The total number of untraced missing persons has also declined slightly this year, with 22,040 cases recorded compared to 24,356 in 2023—a reduction of 9.5%. However, the ratio of traced to untraced persons has remained unchanged: for every traced individual, two remain untraced.
Delhi Police efforts have led to the recovery of 8,342 missing individuals this year, compared to 12,609 last year. While these figures indicate progress, they also reveal gaps in the system that continue to allow many cases to remain unresolved.
Anti human trafficking unit
The decline in trafficking cases can be attributed, in part, to the Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) of Delhi Police. These units, established under a 2010 Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) scheme, have become increasingly effective in recent years in combating human trafficking across the city.
The AHTU scheme, designed to address human trafficking systematically, established specialised units in every district across the country. These units focus on four key objectives: prevention, rescue, rehabilitation, and prosecution. The scope of their operations includes conducting rescue missions, providing survivors with counselling and vocational training, and working to ensure traffickers face legal consequences.
Each unit is staffed with trained personnel, including inspectors, sub-inspectors, and constables, who collaborate closely with NGOs, social welfare departments, and other stakeholders to dismantle trafficking networks and assist victims. The presence of such coordinated efforts has been a game-changer, allowing Delhi Police to tackle complex trafficking networks with greater precision.
Operation Muskaan, a flagship initiative under AHTUs, has had a significant impact on rescuing trafficked children. This year, 989 children were rescued in 97 cases as of October 30, compared to 1,257 children in 126 cases in 2023. Many of these children had been forced into exploitative labour, working long hours in hazardous conditions for meagre wages. While these efforts have led to a reduction in reported cases, the persistent prevalence of child labour remains a concern in the capital.
Despite these achievements, NGOs have flagged issues of underreporting and the continuing evolution of trafficking methods. Additional Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Sanjay Bhatia, stated, “We are working tirelessly to reduce trafficking incidents in Delhi. Heightened surveillance and strategically placed AHTUs have enable us to crack down on trafficking networks.”
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New face of human trafficking
However, a new challenge has emerged in the form of placement agencies that exploit legal loop holes to evade detection. These agencies often employ minors and place them in households or businesses as domestic workers, paying them paltry wages and subjecting them to exploitative conditions.
According to Delhi Police officials, child trafficking is relatively uncommon within the capital itself. However, Delhi serves as a hub for trafficking due to its proximity to major cities like Gurugram and Noida. Many children are brought to the city and forced into labour, with placement agencies playing a central role.
The Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986, prohibits employing children under 14 and restricts hazardous work for those aged 14 to 18. Yet, violations persist despite these safeguards.
On October 24, 15 children aged seven to 17 were rescued from a toy factory in north east Delhi’s Karawal Nagar. They were forced to work 12-hour shifts for just Rs 500 per week and faced physical abuse.
Similarly, raids on August 5 and 6 led to the rescue of 73 children from two factories—18 from a jute factory in Bhajanpura and 55 from a toy factory in Narela-Bawana.
Such rescue operations are often conducted in collaboration with NGOs focused on child rights. Rakesh Kumar of Bachpan Bachao Andolan explained, “Our role involves identifying factories and workplaces employing children. We carry out reconnaissance to locate these sites and inform the police. We also participate in raids to help apprehend offenders.”
Naved Anjum of Prayas Juvenile Aid Centre added, “While trafficking cases have decreased, traffickers have found ways to exploit loopholes. Placement agencies play a significant role by paying parents to ‘sell’ their children or posing as relatives to gain custody.”
Anjum further noted that trafficking cases are often reclassified as kidnappings, which may partly explain the lower reported numbers. “It is no longer as straight forward as it once was. Brothels now often consist of workers who are not abducted but sent by their families or arrive voluntarily. Placement agencies, however, lure families with money or disguise themselves as relatives to get children to work,” he said.
