TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: The ongoing investigation into the functioning of Moonlight Circus has revealed the circus team members would conduct mock raids at regular intervals dressed in police uniforms, to essentially train the juvenile performers on how to camouflage the entire functioning at the circus.
Similarly, the alleged human trafficking racket at Moonlight Circus could have an international angle to it, as sources claimed that a few among the rescued victims hail could from Bangladesh, as confirmed by police investigation.
“The names hint that they are from Bangladesh. We are trying to ascertain whether these are their real names,” an officer informed.
“Some of the circus employees impersonating as policemen would rescue the children and question them about the working at the circus during the mock raids. If the victims spoke about the harassment and torture they were undergoing, the accused subjected them to further brutality,” a police officer said.
Apparently due to this, the 18 rescued victims, who are currently lodged at state-run shelter home following the raid on March 1, are still traumatized and hesitant to disclose the ordeals they underwent. Moreover, the children presumed the raid by a team of police-labour-forest departments were not real owing to their participation in the fake raids in the past.
Sources said that counselling, for the kids are yet to begin to help them overcome their dark past. “They will take some time to adjust to the new environment because all this while, they were prevented from stepping out of the circus premises. They were allowed to move around the restricted space in the presence of circus-appointed guards to ensure the children don’t escape. The fear of brutalities they faced can be erased from their minds only through counselling,” the officer said.
The investigation has also brought to the fore that the children were trafficked at a young age of one-to-two years to train them in various dangerous stunts. They were also fooled into thinking they were talking to their family members on the phone, but were never allowed to meet any outsider.
“The children were in touch with some persons on the phone making them believe that the latter are their family members. In fact they were not. They were also taught that the other inmates were their brothers and sisters,” the officer said.
The Assam-based Moonlight circus has performed at various parts of the country and after their performance in Margao they were due to move to Kudal in Maharashtra which was their next stop. Meanwhile, the animals in the circus, who were neglected after raid, have been shifted to Kudal, a forest officer confirmed.
international angle feared
A well organised human trafficking racket at Moonlight Circus has international angle to it as sources have said a few among the rescued victims hail from Bangladesh.
The police investigation is however ascertaining the revelation. “The names hint they are from the neighbouring country Bangladesh. We are trying to ascertain whether these are their real names,” said an officer.
