KalimNews | Siliguri | July 27, 2025 : In yet another disturbing case of suspected human trafficking in North Bengal, thirty-four young girls were rescued from a bus at Siliguri Junction Bus Stand on Sunday evening by Pradhan Nagar Police, acting on a tip-off from a confidential source. The operation resulted in the detention of three individuals, including a woman, for allegedly attempting to traffic the girls under the false pretense of employment.
The rescued girls, all adults and hailing from tea garden areas of the remote Dooars region of North Bengal, were reportedly being transported to Ranchi, with Tamil Nadu as the final destination. According to police sources, they had been given appointment letters promising work in a mobile company and clothing stores, but the authenticity and intent behind these job offers have now come under serious scrutiny.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Gautam Roy (28 years) — originally from Bihar, currently residing in Haidarpara, Siliguri, Petrus Beck (42 years) — a resident of Jurantee Tea Estate in Mateli, and Joysree Paul (32 years) — a resident of Janata Nagar
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Biswa Chand Thakur, “Initial findings indicate that the girls were being taken for illegal purposes. Investigations have been launched to trace the exact sequence of events. We are also trying to determine where the rescued girls were being taken.”
During the course of investigation, police recovered appointment letters handed to the girls that outlined their supposed employment details. The documents stated a salary structure for 26 days of work, including: daily wage at the rate of ₹442.59 paise, ₹2,766 as overtime totaling to ₹11,507 (main wage). The total mentioned after deductions was ₹10,950, raising further suspicion of wage manipulation and exploitation. It is believed that middlemen involved in the trafficking operation were planning to siphon off a major portion of the girls’ earnings.
Upon intercepting the bus, police questioned the three accompanying individuals who failed to produce any legal documents, employment verification, or work-related papers for the girls. As a result, they were taken into custody, and the bus was seized. The rescued girls have since been moved to a safe facility, and efforts are underway to contact their families.
This incident comes on the heels of another high-profile rescue operation that occurred just days earlier on July 21, when 56 women were rescued from the Capital Express train at New Jalpaiguri (NJP) Railway Station. In that case, the women, aged between 18 and 31, were from Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Alipurduar districts of West Bengal. They too had been allegedly lured with false promises of employment at a Bengaluru-based company.
In the NJP operation, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and ticket examining staff became suspicious after noticing that none of the women had valid tickets and that coach and berth numbers were stamped on their hands, which is typically done at the source station. On investigation, the two people accompanying them — a man and a woman — could not provide any credible explanation as to why the women were being taken to Bihar when they had been told they would be working in Bengaluru. Furthermore, no documentation of job offers or travel approval was provided, leading to their immediate arrest.
Both incidents have raised alarming concerns over a possible network of organised human trafficking rings operating in the region, particularly targeting vulnerable populations in rural and economically disadvantaged zones. Authorities suspect that the traffickers are using fabricated job offers and manipulated documents to transport victims across state lines for exploitative purposes.
DCP Biswa Chand Thakur confirmed that the three suspects arrested in Sunday’s rescue are currently being interrogated and that the investigation will be expanded to determine whether the two incidents are linked as part of a broader trafficking syndicate.
Law enforcement agencies have reiterated their commitment to cracking down on such operations and urged the public to remain vigilant. Families are encouraged to report any suspicious recruitment activities or travel arrangements, especially involving young women from rural areas.
The rescued women shall be sent to their respective homes with their guardians and are currently under the care of the social welfare department, and rehabilitation efforts are being coordinated with local authorities. The police investigation remains active and ongoing, and further arrests may be made in the coming days.
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