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Counselling by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (CID) officers instilled courage in a victim of human trafficking, who escaped from Hanuman Tekdi, Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, to lodge a First Information Report (FIR). This initiated a rescue operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) team in Andhra Pradesh (Anantpur and Hyderabad) on 18 September 2008. The joint efforts of the Andhra Pradesh team, headed by Mr. A.S. Khan, Superintendent of Police- Cyber Crime, CID, Hyderabad, and Bhiwandi police team lead to the rescue of thirteen women including two minors and the arrest of eleven traffickers. The operation was handled efficiently and in line with the "UN Protocol on Inter State Rescue and Post Rescue Activities Relating to Persons Trafficked for Commercial Sexual Exploitation", under the able supervision of Mr S. Umapathi, Inspector General of Police, Women Protection Cell, Hyderabad.
The victims were segregated from the traffickers and were put in the post rescue care of two NGOs of Maharashtra, REDS and Rescue Foundation, to help them overcome the trauma. Effective steps are also being taken to ensure that rehabilitation packages are provided to all the victims.
The success of the operation validates the fundamental mandate of AHTU and sets an example of how the synergy of stakeholders can make an anti human trafficking operation effective.
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