Goa became the second state after Andhra Pradesh to get an Integrated Anti Human Trafficking Unit on Saturday morning after Chief Minister Pratpasing Rane inaugurated the well-equipped centre in the presence of top-ranking police officers and members of NGOs in the capital city.
Rane also cut a ribbon to open a nodal training centre for the unit within the premises of the new AHTU housed inside the Women’s Police Station, which is situated next to the Town Police Station, here.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Ujjwal Mishra and Project Coordinator United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Dr P M Nair showed the CM around the place. UNODC representative for South Asia , Gary Lewis was also present.
Soon after, the chief minister flagged off a Sumo vehicle provided by the UNODC near the gate of the police headquarters.
The AHTU is part of an effort supported by UNODC in five states in India with significant human trafficking problems to beef up the law enforcement response. The five states are AP, Goa, West Bengal, Bihar and Maharashtra.
While AP has three AHTUs, Goa has got one and in the other three states UNODC has conducted extensive training for law enforcement officers.
In Goa, 329 police officers, 40 prosecutors and 20 magistrates have undergone extensive training by the UNODC for months together.
Gary Lewis of the UNODC maintains that a national survey on anti-human trafficking has recorded a low level of awareness among law enforcement officers. However, once they are seized of the problem through the UNODC trainings they have acted fast, he observed.
The creation of the AHTUs is part of a programme for police training and capacity building undertaken by the UNODC in partnership with the Ministry of Home Affairs, government of India and financially supported by the United States government to the tune of US $2.5 million.
Courtesy: Herald, Goa Daily
