Dibrugarh: The mastermind of child trafficking was arrested from Phillobari area under Phillobari police station in eastern Assam’s Tinsukia on Wednesday.
The person has been identified as Peter Sona.
He has been suspected of trafficking and at least half a dozen children from tea gardens were trafficked to neighbouring Arunachal Pradesh.
According to police, Peter was hiding at Pengree from where he was arrested.
“Peter has been absconding for the last many days after his accomplices were arrested recently from Duarmara Singpo village when they went to take away a minor from the village. Dipak Phukan was nabbed by the villagers and handed to police. Following his interrogation, five more persons linked to human trafficking were arrested. The accused have been identified as Umakanta Chetri, Boby Deori Sona, Rohit Khadal, Peter Sabashi and Ajit Munda. But the main mastermind, Peter Sona, has been absconding,” said a police official.
He said, “We got information that Peter was hiding in Pengree. We launched an operation and arrested him from his hiding place.”
Sources said Peter Sona used the name of Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA) to manipulate the tea garden residents.
“He took the small children of the Adivasi people and sold them to Arunachal Pradesh. He tells everyone that he is an ATTSA leader. Peter Sona is the mastermind of the child trafficking racket and his arrest will help police to find the main network,” said a source.
Sources said Peter Sona has been involved in this human-trafficking racket for the last several years.
“Peter Sona was a former ATTSA leader and he took advantage of that. We condemn such acts and demand strict punishment of the accused. The poor Adivasi people were trapped by him,” said a leader of ATTSA.
Officer-in-charge of Phillobari police station Ajit Sonowal said, “We have arrested Peter Sona in connection with a case registered in Phillobari police station. Earlier, six persons associated with child trafficking were arrested. Peter Sona had been absconding since then. We got a lead from our source and nabbed him from his hideout.”
“We have seized a car bearing registration number AS 23 AF 5952, which was used by the traffickers to take away children. Peter Sona was the driver of the vehicle and he was associated with the incident,” Sonowal said.
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