Human Trafficking: NIA Files Charge Sheet Against Three Myanmar Nationals For Selling Rohingya Women Into Forced Marriages

On Sunday (4 January), the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has submitted a charge sheet against three individuals from Myanmar in a significant international human trafficking case involving the illegal infiltration and trafficking of foreign nationals, primarily of Rohingya origin, into India through the India-Bangladesh border according to a report from NDTV.

The accused, namely Rabiul Islam, Sofi Alom, and Mohammad Usman, are permanent residents of Myanmar's Maungdaw district, according to the NIA statement.

The NIA revealed that these individuals entered India unlawfully without travel documents in collaboration with traffickers and agents.

They were also actively engaged in assisting numerous other foreign nationals in infiltrating India, utilising unauthorised and illegal border routes, as highlighted in the charge sheet.

The NIA emphasised that the accused were part of a well-organised network of traffickers and agents conducting illegal activities.

Their activities involved enticing vulnerable Rohingya women, who had sought refuge in Bangladesh, into India under false promises of marriage to Rohingya men.

Furthermore, the investigation disclosed that these women were subsequently sold into forced marriages in various states such as Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana, Haryana, among others.

The NIA's inquiry uncovered instances of document forgery, revealing that Rabi Islam and Mohammad Usman obtained Aadhaar cards through fraudulent means.

These cards were then used to acquire multiple SIM cards and open bank accounts, contributing to the concealment of their true identities.

With the submission of this charge sheet, the NIA, which initiated its investigation on 7 November 2023, has taken a significant stride in unraveling and dismantling a major international human trafficking racket and network.