Sex-change racket caught in Assam, seven held
Assam police held seven persons, including six transgender people in an alleged human trafficking racket in the Lalmati area of Guwahati.
Police said two young men, whose gender reassignment had been performed, were rescued.
"In the preliminary investigation, it has been found that the accused were involved in trafficking and forced sex change operations of the victims," the police informed.
"Our investigation is still on and soon, further details in the incident will be unearthed," they added.
Advocate Swati Bidhan Baruah, who also heads the Transgender Welfare Board, said she received a call from a transgender woman at a railway station, who claimed to have found one of the victims.
"The person said she had managed to escape while she was being transported to Delhi. When our transgender people rescued her, based on her inputs, the raids were conducted and two more were rescued," advocate Baruah said.
According to police, boys from economically weaker sections were taken to Delhi by luring them with better job opportunities and then were forcibly castrated.
Reportedly, after the surgery, they were introduced to begging and prostitution rackets and later sent back to Assam to work in the profession.
Two cases have been registered against one of the accused named Pinky in the women's police station at Pan Bazar.
Pinky is believed to be the mastermind of the racket and has been accused of taking a commission from the victims once they started earning.
Meanwhile, Assam Police is coordinating with the Delhi Police to bust the racket at the national capital.
(With inputs from agencies)
(Edited by Aparmita Das)
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