By : Adrian David, NST, October 13 2008
Senior diplomatic and law enforcement officials of the three countries acknowledged that investigations had intensified following the latest rescue of five Indian women here, leading to the arrest of several vice kingpins in the three countries.
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysian, Singaporean and Indian authorities have intensified a probe into the trafficking of young tribal north-eastern women sold in the Southeast Asian flesh trade as "Spices of India".
Manipur police are believed to have made several arrests, including that of Philip Gangmei and Vicky Kungo, in its state capital Imphal on Sept 23. There were another three arrests on Oct 3.
Singapore and Malaysian police are believed to be hot on the trail of another man, believed to be the mastermind of a Singapore-based "recruiting firm".
Earlier this month, Indian authorities intercepted another five of the women in Dimapur. They were about to be shipped to Singapore via Kolkata.
The officials said a third group of 15 young women from Punjab state were rescued by temple priests in Kuala Lumpur and repatriated last month.
"We believe the girls rescued are just the tip of the iceberg. There could be many more victims from other Indian states ," said a diplomat.
She said the Indian tribal women from small villages were being sought for their "exotic" and "pure" qualities as there was demand for them from wealthy clients at posh city nightspots.
The case came to light when one of the five women, from Manipur and Assam, escaped from a Kuala Lumpur nightclub, where they had been "dumped" after their arrival from Singapore last month.
The woman, who escaped on Sept 17, alerted the Indian High Commission in Jalan Duta, which then sought the assistance of police to rescue the other four.
All five were housed at the David Pasteur Christian Home for destitutes here, which linked up with social activist Kinderson Panmei to repatriate them home last Friday with the help of the Indian High Commission.
The women told the authorities that they were initially lured to Singapore with promises of lucrative jobs as maids for six months. However, they were later made to work as bar girls and prostitutes in nightclubs in Singapore and Malaysia.
Indian High Commission counsellor Sudhir Kumar Mehrotra said as many as 150 women from Manipur, Assam and Nagaland were believed to have been duped by recruitment agents in recent months.
The agents took advantage of many ignorant and destitute families in Manipur's backward districts, like Tamenglong, promising them a way out of poverty. Instead, the women ended up broke.
Following the rescue of the women, a non-governmental organisation, the Repatriation of Stranded Girls (RSG), appealed to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to carry out stringent checks on recruitment agencies.
The National Commission for Women, the All-India Christian Council, the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline called on the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi, India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and its Tribal Affairs Minister P.R. Kyandiah to investigate the matter.
Singapore and Malaysian police are believed to be hot on the trail of another man, believed to be the mastermind of a Singapore-based "recruiting firm".
Earlier this month, Indian authorities intercepted another five of the women in Dimapur. They were about to be shipped to Singapore via Kolkata.
The officials said a third group of 15 young women from Punjab state were rescued by temple priests in Kuala Lumpur and repatriated last month.
"We believe the girls rescued are just the tip of the iceberg. There could be many more victims from other Indian states ," said a diplomat.
She said the Indian tribal women from small villages were being sought for their "exotic" and "pure" qualities as there was demand for them from wealthy clients at posh city nightspots.
The case came to light when one of the five women, from Manipur and Assam, escaped from a Kuala Lumpur nightclub, where they had been "dumped" after their arrival from Singapore last month.
The woman, who escaped on Sept 17, alerted the Indian High Commission in Jalan Duta, which then sought the assistance of police to rescue the other four.
All five were housed at the David Pasteur Christian Home for destitutes here, which linked up with social activist Kinderson Panmei to repatriate them home last Friday with the help of the Indian High Commission.
The women told the authorities that they were initially lured to Singapore with promises of lucrative jobs as maids for six months. However, they were later made to work as bar girls and prostitutes in nightclubs in Singapore and Malaysia.
Indian High Commission counsellor Sudhir Kumar Mehrotra said as many as 150 women from Manipur, Assam and Nagaland were believed to have been duped by recruitment agents in recent months.
The agents took advantage of many ignorant and destitute families in Manipur's backward districts, like Tamenglong, promising them a way out of poverty. Instead, the women ended up broke.
Following the rescue of the women, a non-governmental organisation, the Repatriation of Stranded Girls (RSG), appealed to Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh to carry out stringent checks on recruitment agencies.
The National Commission for Women, the All-India Christian Council, the Northeast Support Centre and Helpline called on the Malaysian High Commission in New Delhi, India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and its Tribal Affairs Minister P.R. Kyandiah to investigate the matter.
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