Courtesy: Navhind Times

Panaji, Jun 1: The Director General of Police, Neeraj Kumar on Wednesday informed that Goa will have United Nations Office on Drugs and Crimes and the office will be known as Goa anti-human trafficking unit. The office will be set up within the next 2 to 3 months and added that the office would provide Goa police logistic support and some funds.

Kumar told reporters that representatives of United Nation’s Office on Drugs and Crime held a meeting with top Goa police officials and some non-governmental organisations some weeks ago.

The DGP disclosed that it would take 2 to 3 months to complete the formalities to set up the office, which would deal with crimes pertaining to trafficking in women and sexual abuse and exploitation of children.

Kumar said that this unit will be headed by a superintendent of police (CID/crime) and most members will be lady police officers and others as most of the trafficking takes place among women and children.

He said that normally there aren’t many such cases in Goa, but trafficking does not necessarily mean for sex trade. Women and children are taken as domestic help to Middle East nations and others, he added.

Kumar informed that P M Nair, a police official of 1978 batch, a Delhi-based project coordinator in India was deputed to United Nations.

Kumar disclosed that during the peak tourist season the trafficking in flesh trade picks up and added that a study was carried out in Goa last year in relation to maid servants by the unit officials.

This office will also look after trafficking in minor children besides women brought from other states and employed by shop-keepers, construction engineers or contractors, moving with scavengers, hoteliers and others.

He said presently no cases of child exploitation or child abuse or employment of minors have been registered in the state, but in case of such a complaint, they would act.