In a significant breakthrough in the fight against human trafficking, a joint operation led by the Government Railway Police (GRP), in coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and Tripura Police, resulted in the arrest of five human traffickers from three locations in West Tripura district.

GRP Officer-in-Charge Tapas Das informed that the arrests were made following a tip-off about the presence of traffickers in the Lankamura, Sharmalunga, and Sanmura areas. 

Acting swiftly, the security forces conducted coordinated raids early Monday morning.

“These arrests are linked to two ongoing cases of human trafficking. The accused had been on the run for a long time,” said Das. He further added that the arrested individuals are currently being interrogated by a special team at the Agartala GRP Police Station, and more arrests are expected as the investigation progresses.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Sumon Das alias Bikash (39), Rahul Das (27), Bishwajit Das (49), Anibesh Sarkar (31), and Jewel Sarkar (26)—all residents of the areas where the raids were conducted.

They will be produced before the court later today, where police will seek remand for further questioning.

In a related development, security personnel recently apprehended seven Bangladeshi nationals at Agartala Railway Station. They had reportedly entered Tripura illegally and were attempting to travel beyond the state.