NEW DELHI, Oct 19: A couple from Jharkhand allegedly involved in trafficking of around 5,000 children from the state and having links with former minister Yogendra Sao, who was held for allegedly floating an ultra outfit, was today arrested here.
31-year-old Panna Lal Mahto and his wife Sunita Kumari, who were wanted by Jharkhand Police in a case of human trafficking, were apprehended from a hideout in Shakurpur area here, when they had come to collect their belongings for fleeing to some unknown place.
“They (Mahto and Kumari) were involved in trafficking children from Jharkhand for working illegally as domestic helps in Delhi and NCR through their placement agencies,” said Ravindra Yadav, Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime).
“SP/Khunti, Jharkhand had approached Crime Branch of Delhi Police for the arrest of these most wanted human traffickers Panna Lal Mahto and his wife Sunita Kumari who are running a human trafficking racket including sale of minor girls,” Yadav said.
He also said that Sao, an ex-minister in Jharkhand and a sitting MLA from Barkagaon constituency of the state, was also arrested from Mahto’s residence here on October 4 in a joint operation by the Crime Branch and Jharkhand Police.
Sao, who was absconding after non-bailable warrants were issued against him by a Court in Hazaribagh in Jharkhand for allegedly floating an ultra outfit, was taken to Jharkhand after a court here had granted three-days transit remand to the police.
The police said that Mahto’s sister-in-law was arrested on October 13 here in a joint operation and she was also indulged in trafficking of minor girls from remote areas of Jharkhand.
“It has been revealed that accused Panna Lal Mahto was running several sub-units to expand the business of human trafficking in Delhi to make quick bucks. His connections with Maoists are being probed into by Jharkhand Police,” it said.
The police said that Mahto, a resident of Khunti district of Jharkhand, had came in Delhi in 2002 and started placement agencies.
Mahto, along with his 37-year-old wife, was involved in supplying around 5,000 children from Jharkhand so far, police said.
It said that earlier he was arrested by Jharkhand Police in 2006 for human trafficking and two separate cases each have been registered against Mahto and his wife there.
“The accused persons have amassed huge wealth/ properties in Delhi, Ranchi and Khunti (Jharkhand) from their illegal human trafficking,” it said. (PTI)
Follow our WhatsApp channel