HT Bureau
GUWAHATI, April 28: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) under the Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has intensified its efforts to rescue vulnerable passengers and combat human trafficking across the region, rescuing 71 minors and two women between April 1 and April 15, 2025.
According to an official statement issued by the NFR, the rescued individuals—comprising both boys and girls—were safely handed over to Child Line services, NGOs, local police, or their families for further assistance and rehabilitation. In addition to the rescues, the RPF arrested one human trafficker and one kidnapper, both of whom were handed over to Government Railway Police (GRP) and local police authorities for legal action.
One of the key operations took place on April 9 at New Jalpaiguri Railway Station, where the RPF apprehended a human trafficker and rescued three minor boys. The trafficker and the minors were handed over to the Officer-in-Charge of GRP at New Jalpaiguri. A case was subsequently registered under relevant provisions of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act.
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Earlier, on April 3, RPF personnel from Kishanganj Post rescued 10 runaway minor boys from Bihar and West Bengal at Kishanganj Railway Station. The children were handed over to Child Line, Kishanganj for rehabilitation and counselling.
In another incident on April 7, the RPF team from Harmuti Post rescued a runaway minor girl at North Lakhimpur Railway Station. After verification, she was reunited with her family.
On April 10, RPF personnel from Alipurduar Junction, in coordination with the SIB team, rescued four runaway minors—including two girls—at the station. They were subsequently handed over to Child Line, Alipurduar for safe custody.
The RPF also reported significant activity under its “Meri Saheli” initiative, which focuses on enhancing the safety of lone women passengers. In March 2025, the initiative helped 1,220 women passengers travel safely across the NFR zone. During the same period, RPF teams rescued one minor girl and one woman.
The official statement emphasized the RPF’s ongoing commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of passengers—particularly women and children—through proactive surveillance, timely intervention, and sustained public outreach.
