Special security in place to keep an eye on kids at Rath Yatra mela in Ranchi's Jagannathpur

RANCHI: A number of special security arrangements have been made for the nine-day Rath Yatra mela set to begin in Ranchi's Jagannathpur from Friday.
With a lot of children expected to visit the fair, traffickers will also be on the prowl.
Srijan Mahila Vikas Manch (Chakradharpur) secretary Nargis Khatoon, who also runs a childline and is working for the rehabilitation of survivors and minor migrant workers, said, “Young girls are manipulated by traffickers and agents and brought to such fairs, from where they are then trafficked.”
Jharkhand Anti-Trafficking Network secretary Hussain Imam Fatmi said they often come across several cases wherein the victims are accompanied by their own relatives or neighbours. But traffickers brainwash the family members belonging to the weaker sections to hand over the girls and boys to them with promises of a better life.
Ranchi SSP Surendra Kumar Jha said, “We have deployed over a thousand policemen, including women officers and undercover personnel. Control rooms and drone surveillance have also been set up to keep an eye on people’s movement.”
Anti Human-Trafficking Unit sub-inspector Tarique Anwar said, “Support centres (Sahayata Kendra) are being set up for anyone in need of help or grievance redressal at the fair.”