Synopsis
The Jammu and Kashmir government has authorized station house officers as special police officers under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, enhancing their authority to combat human trafficking and sexual exploitation.Key Takeaways
- SHOs are now special police officers.
- Order aims to combat human trafficking.
- ITPA focuses on exploitation, not prostitution itself.
- Law enforcement can rescue victims and prosecute offenders.
- Past sex racket scandal in Kashmir highlighted the issue.
Jammu, Feb 5 (NationPress) The government of Jammu and Kashmir took a significant step on Wednesday by issuing an order that designates station house officers (SHOs) of police as special police officers within their designated jurisdictions, as per the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
Principal Secretary of Home, Chandraker Bharti, released an order under the ITPA that overrides all prior notifications regarding this matter.
This directive from the Lt Governor appoints all SHOs of the J&K Police, who hold a rank of Inspector or higher, along with SDPOs/DySP Headquarters, as special police officers under the act. This move aims to bolster enforcement efforts against human trafficking and sexual exploitation for commercial gain.
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act serves as legislation aimed at fighting human trafficking and the systematic commercial exploitation of individuals.
While this act does not outright criminalize prostitution, it does impose penalties for activities such as operating brothels, coaxing individuals into prostitution, detaining individuals for such purposes, and exploiting minors.
Law enforcement agencies are empowered under the ITPA to rescue victims and take legal action against traffickers, pimps, and brothel operators.
A notorious sex trafficking ring shook the Kashmir Valley in 2006, leading to the naming of nearly two dozen politicians and bureaucrats for their involvement in the exploitation of young girls orchestrated by a woman named Sabeena.
Described as the mastermind of the operation, Sabeena implicated various politicians and bureaucrats in her recorded testimony before the CBI. The CBI subsequently arrested two senior politicians, a high-ranking IAS officer, a Deputy Inspector General of the BSF, and a Superintendent of Police following revelations made by a victim. Sabeena later claimed that she was framed by certain political figures and bureaucrats. In a public outcry on May 1, 2006, an enraged mob demolished Sabeena’s residence in Srinagar as they expressed their outrage against the sex trafficking scandal.
