Siliguri, 2 August (H.S.) -The 41st Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) has busted a major human trafficking racket near the Indo-Nepal border at Panitanki market in West Bengal’s Darjeeling district. Acting on a tip-off, a special patrolling team rescued seven Nepali girls from traffickers on Friday and apprehended two suspects attempting to smuggle them into India.

According to officials, the rescued girls hail from Sankhuwasabha district in eastern Nepal and are aged between 16 and 21. The traffickers, identified as Japan Gurung (61) and Dipesh Gurung (41), were caught while illegally crossing into Indian territory with the girls.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the victims were being lured with promises of employment in Hong Kong and other foreign countries. The traffickers had reportedly arranged forged Indian identity documents—such as Aadhaar, PAN, and voter cards—for the girls, with the intention of securing Indian passports to facilitate their movement abroad.

The SSB handed over the rescued girls and the arrested traffickers to the Khaprail police station under the jurisdiction of Khoribari police. Further investigation is underway to uncover the full extent of the trafficking network.

Authorities suspect the involvement of a larger cross-border trafficking syndicate operating between Nepal and India, and efforts are being made to identify and apprehend other members involved.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh