PANJIM: Taking serious cognizance of cases trafficking of children and women, Goa State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has recommended appointing an officer of the rank of deputy inspector general of police and above to investigate missing persons’ complaints.
“An officer not below the rank of DIG should be deployed as Nodal Officer for the State for handling the cases of missing children,” the recommendations states.
It further states, “Once the complaint is received by the Police relating to commission of any offense against children or women, the police shall register FIR forthwith and investigate the matter in right perspective.”
The commission headed by Justice P K Misra also stated that police should conduct preliminary inquiry immediately on receiving a missing complaint, and in case the victim is not traced within four weeks, an FIR should be registered to conduct a thorough probe.
“The investigation agency shall publish photographs of missing persons in the news paper; telecast on the television within one week. It should be given wide publicity at prominent outlets of the city. However, in case of minor/child such photographs shall not be published without written consent of the parents/guardians,” the recommendation says.
It adds, “The police shall establish Anti-Human Trafficking Unit to deal with the cases of human trafficking exclusively. In case the missing child is not recovered within four months from the date of filing FIR, the matter may be forwarded to the unit (Anti-Human Trafficking Unit) in order to take up more intensive investigation regarding the missing child.”
Ironically, the Goa Police anti-trafficking unit is almost defunct due to several reasons, mainly due to staff shortage and lack of proper infrastructure.
The job does not end once the missing victim is traced. It has also been suggested that the police investigate whether there is involvement of any trafficking due to which the child was missing. “If investigation finds any such links, the police shall take appropriate action,” it says.
