Focus on victim-centric investigations, rehabilitation, inter-agency coordination, ‘cyber slavery’
Srinagar, Oct 19: Crime Branch Jammu and Kashmir on Monday organised a Union Territory-level conference on anti-human trafficking at Tagore Hall, Srinagar, to strengthen inter-agency coordination and promote a victim-centric approach to investigation, rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration.
In a statement issued here, Crime Branch J&K said the conference was organised on the directions of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and Police Headquarters, J&K.
The conference was inaugurated by IGP Crime J&K Sarah Rizvi, IPS, while CEO JK4C Sheikh Junaid Mehmood, IPS, attended as the guest of honour. It witnessed participation from the judiciary, Social Welfare Department, Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), police, paramilitary forces, NGOs and students from Women’s College, MA Road, Women’s College, Nawakadal and Police Public School, Bemina.
In her keynote address, IGP Sarah Rizvi stressed the need for a coordinated and victim-centric response to human trafficking, stressing that interventions must go beyond rescuing victims and registering cases to ensure their safety, dignity, access to justice, rehabilitation and reintegration.
She also highlighted emerging challenges, including cyber-enabled exploitation and cyber slavery and called for stronger institutional capacity to tackle evolving forms of trafficking.
The technical sessions covered the legal framework and emerging trends in human trafficking, missing-person cases, judicial intervention, victim identification and rehabilitation, and technology-enabled exploitation.
Dr Aneeda Jan, Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Kashmir, spoke on the legal framework, emerging trends and challenges in human trafficking. Dr Savita Nayar, Professor at the University of Jammu, discussed standard operating procedures for missing persons and the role of criminal law and judicial intervention in trafficking cases.
Dr Farooq Ahmad Khan, Programme Manager, Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), Social Welfare Department, highlighted the importance of victim identification, coordinated rescue, psychosocial support, rehabilitation and safe reintegration.
SSP JK4C Kamal Pal Singh Malhotra, IPS, addressed the emerging challenge of cyber slavery, highlighting the role of digital platforms and technology-enabled exploitation in trafficking-related offences and the need for stronger cyber investigation and inter-agency cooperation.
The conference provided a platform for police officers, judicial representatives, government departments, civil society organisations and students to exchange experiences and discuss practical measures to strengthen the prevention, detection and investigation of human trafficking cases.
Crime Branch J&K reiterated its commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, improving coordination and adopting technology-enabled investigations while ensuring a humane, victim-centric approach to combating human trafficking and protecting victims’ rights. (KNO)
