IMPHAL, January 23: The police have arrested three individuals while allegedly trafficking seven children all under the age of 13 years into the state from Meghalaya.
According to a police source, the three individuals arrested for allegedly trafficking the seven minors are KL Larny Anal (32) son of KL Lumsung Anal of Abungnikhu village, Chandel, his brother KL Uninov Anal (19) and Bison Nongshli (54) son of (L) C Maring of Sang Bangla, Nongpoh, Meghalaya.
The minors include one 13 year old girl, two 10 year old boys and a 8 year old boy, all from Umling of Ribhoi district, Meghalaya; one 13 year old girl from Nongpoh, Ribhoi district and two 12 year old boys from Sang Bangla, Ribhoi district said the source.
Further according to the source, Thoubal Police personnel were conducting frisking and checking near a canal near the Thoubal Police Station last night around 10pm. During the course of the checking, a Maruti van bearing regd no MN 02-3522 came from Imphal side and was stopped for checking. When Police found that the van was carrying the seven children all under the age of 13 years, the vehicle and its occupants were detained for further interrogation.
During interrogation, the three replied that they were taking the minors to the Basiliea Children Home, Chandel. Suspicious over their conduct, the police handed over the children to the Child Welfare Committee, Thoubal while the three are now in the custody of the Thoubal Police.
The police have urged the Child Wlefare Committee to find out whether their claim that they were taking the children to the children home is true.
Meanwhile, the police have not filed any case on the incident, said the source.