Manual for Training Police on Anti Human Trafficking

<strong>Police</strong> Action
After discussing the details of planning <strong>for</strong> a rescue, work with your participants on the complexities
and challenges faced during the actual rescue process. It is vital to begin by clarifying doubts about
which police officer is authorized to investigate a case under the ITPA, who can arrest offenders and
who can undertake rescue. 28
2. DURING RESCUE
EXERCISE
<strong>Police</strong> Action (Rescue Operations)
Estimated time : 40 mins
Material required : Printed case study, flip chart, marker pens
Methodology : Group work
Expected outcome : Participants will be able to identify some of the dos and don’ts with regards
to procedural action in AHT
1)
Activity
Divide participants into five smaller groups.
2) Each group can take up one specific case study and examine the same closely.
3) Present the questions following the case studies29 and facilitate a discussion on the same.
1) JYOTI, who was rescued from G B Road in 2001, stated, “during the raid, policemen came in large
numbers. There were a few policewomen also. They ran helter-skelter within the brothel and were only
too eager to finish their task and appeared to be in a hurry to rescue all trafficked women and children.
Apparently, they were concerned about resistance from the brothel madams, who not only put up a strong
resistance, but also concealed the children in the dark rooms, alleys, and passages, specifically created as
‘storage spaces’ <strong>for</strong> girls like us. In their hurry, policemen pulled out the girls from the cubicles. While
pulling out the girls, they often caught hold of their hair. In the process, the girls suffered serious pain
and agony. They even pulled out tufts of hair from the scalp, causing excruciating pain. <strong>Police</strong>men and
women should be made sensitive.”
2) DEEPA said, the policemen were in such a hurry that they kicked open the toilet door even while she
was inside and pulled her out, despite her not being properly dressed. “Seeing me naked, one policeman
took pleasure in touching my private parts with a baton that he was carrying. Another policeman was
quick to pass lewd comments,” she said.
3) PREETHA said, “The policemen were prevented by the brothel
keeper from taking away the young girls. The brothel madams
are aware that girls below 18 years cannot be detained in brothels
and that any violation is a serious crime. Their priority is to hide
minor girls in any available place. In one instance, I saw a fist
fight between the brothel madam and the manager on one side
and the police officials on the other. In the process, it was the
girl who suffered serious injuries.”
4) VIMLA said, “I was shocked to be pulled out along with the
customer from my cubicle on the second floor of the Kota. They
dragged me to the ground floor, where many policemen were
crowding. I appealed to the policemen to allow me to go back
and collect my belongings, earnings and my trunk containing all
my clothes. The policemen refused me permission to go up. They said they would ask the brothel keeper
to bring my trunk to the police station.”
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