Agent, who trafficked 39 people to Iraq, still working: Swaraj
What's the story
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said the agent responsible for trafficking 39 Indians to Iraq, who were abducted and later killed, was still operating his business and urged state women commissions to crackdown against such illegal agents.
Swaraj had told Parliament in March that the 39 Indians, who were abducted by the ISIS terror outfit in Mosul, Iraq three years ago, were dead.
Govt authorized agents
Swaraj says people should go through govt authorized agents only
Swaraj said the passage of the anti-trafficking bill was a very good step but till the network of such illegal agents was curbed its full impact could not be realized.
She advised people to go only through government-authorized agents.
"The Ministry has all the information of people who go through government-authorized agents and we know who is the employer," she said.
Information
It becomes difficult to rescue trafficked people once arrested: Swaraj
"Young boys are trafficked from Mumbai who say that they are being sent to different merchant ships as crew-members, but in reality they are being sent for smuggling and when they get arrested in other countries it becomes very difficult to rescue them," Swaraj rued.
Details
Swaraj says state CMs will take strict-action against illegal agents
Referring to government-authorized agents, Swaraj said in case of any unforeseen incident, they have an agent responsible for people going abroad.
She said the state commissions need to identify these illegal agents and give their names to their CMs and ask them to take action against "so-called agents".
"Half of the problem would be solved if such agents are identified and nabbed," she added.