Fifty-one people have been traced and rescued, including 47 children and four adults, in connection with an alleged child trafficking racket in Namsai, Arunachal Pradesh.

The case was registered at the Namsai police station last month, following a complaint by the District Child Welfare Committee.

The investigation concerns allegations of illegal procurement, trafficking and placement of children from economically vulnerable families. Police have arrested five alleged facilitators.

Police are examining the financial trail, with transactions of approximately Rs. 10,000 - Rs 50,000 per child reportedly detected between intermediaries and parents. Investigators say vulnerable families were allegedly targeted with promises of better education and upbringing, while some children were subsequently placed as domestic workers or in hotels.

The police are continuing their efforts to identify remaining victims and uncover the entire network. Poverty has been one of the main reasons why trafficking happens. It makes families more vulnerable, while authorities are often unable to detect such cases on time.

The state must make sure it reaches out to the most vulnerable groups, and that they are not left to fend for themselves. The Namsai police and the Child Welfare Committee must be commended for their work. A lot of work needs to be done to ensure that such crimes are not repeated, and those found guilty of trafficking must face the toughest sentence.