In a major breakthrough, Jabalpur police busted a gang involved in human trafficking and nabbed three of the five accused, including two women from Rajasthan. The accused have been identified as Anil Kumar Barman (28), son of Anarilal Barman, lived at Katra Mohalla, Adhartal and native of Ramkhiriya village in Majhgavan, his wife Jyoti Barman (20), native of Bijakhera in Panna district and Santoshi Bairagi (Marathi) (28), wife of Dau Bairagj, lived at Paraswara, Sanjeevani Nagar and native of Khursauli village, Hatta in Balaghat district.

Additional SP (City South/Crime), Gopal Prasad Khandel disclosed this while addressing a press conference, on Friday.

ASP, Khandel informed that on January 28, 2021, a 62-year-old woman lodged a complaint that her 23-year-old married granddaughter went out from the house for bringing clothes but could not return home. Police registered a case of missing person and started a search for the girl. Police found the missing girl who informed that Santoshi Marathi, a resident of Bhukamp Colony allured her for providing laboring work and took her at Bundi, Kota in Rajasthan. Santoshi Marathi, Anil Barman and his wife Jyoti Barman took her at residence of a man named Suresh Singh Thakur who works as mediator for human trafficking. She was rejected for selling due to her dark color but another woman was sold. Thereafter, they sent her Jabalpur with Santoshi Marathi. Similarly, a 31-year-old woman of Madan Mahal area informed that she was married 15-year back but she was separated from her husband after 3-years of marriage. She lived with her son, lived at a rented room and work at a restaurant. Her coworker at the restaurant, Anil Barman and his wife Jyoti Barman introduced her with Santoshi Bairagi and allured for providing good wage at Rajasthan. On January 20, 2021, Jyoti Barman and Santoshi Barman dropped her son at his parental house in Rewa and took her Rajasthan where she met another woman of Gwarighat. She was sold to a man named Jamna Shankar through Suresh Singh at the rate of Rs. 2.80 lakhs and Suresh Singh, Anil Barman, Jyoti Barman and Santoshi Bairagi distributed their shares. Jamna Shankar exploited her mentally and physically for next one month when he requested him for bringing her son. He allowed her to bring her son and gave her rail ticket and money. She managed to return Jabalpur and contacted the police. Investigating the case, police have arrested Anil Barman, Jyoti Barman and Santoshi Bairagi and a search is underway for Suresh Singh Thakur and Jamna Shankar.