Gandhinagar, Aug 22 (SocialNews.XYZ) As human trafficking investigations increasingly require digital, forensic, and financial evidence, Rashtriya Raksha University (RRU) has trained 41 Police Inspectors from Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) across Gujarat in specialised investigation techniques and technology-enabled policing.
The three-day workshop, titled “Trapped Behind the Scam”, was held from August 20 to 22 at RRU in connection with the United Nations World Day Against Trafficking in Persons.
The National Resource Centre for Anti-Human Trafficking (NRCHT) organised it under the university’s School of Criminal Law and Military Law. The training comes against the backdrop of an increase in arrests linked to human trafficking cases in Gujarat.
According to data provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs before Parliament, 65 people were arrested in connection with human trafficking cases in the state in 2024, compared with 48 in 2023.
The MHA’s Anti-Trafficking Cell is responsible for matters concerning the law-enforcement response to trafficking in human beings and issues guidelines to states and Union Territories to strengthen enforcement.
The programme covered changing methods used by traffickers, investigation strategies and law-enforcement responses, including transnational organised crime, forensic investigation and the investigation process in anti-human trafficking cases.
Sessions also examined child trafficking and the importance of cooperation between police, NGOs, social welfare departments, health professionals, prosecutors and other stakeholders.
During the inaugural session, Aditya Purohit, National Security Staff Officer to the Vice Chancellor, highlighted the need for law-enforcement agencies to use technology, data and specialised knowledge to respond to emerging forms of crime.
Sunil Kavishwar, Director of the School of Criminal Law and Military Law, described the workshop as a “tactical laboratory”, stressing the importance of practical learning alongside classroom instruction.
He highlighted digital evidence, forensic investigation, financial investigation and inter-agency coordination as important elements of trafficking investigations.
Prof. Dr Kalpesh Wandra, Pro Vice Chancellor, RRU, stressed the importance of regular training and hands-on learning for police officers, particularly as technology becomes increasingly relevant to crime investigations.
Retired IPS officer and former senior official of the National Investigation Agency, Atul Kulkarni, addressed participants through video conference and shared his experience investigating organised crime and human trafficking.
As part of the practical component, the officers visited RRU’s advanced Open-Source Intelligence Laboratory, where they were given a live demonstration of how OSINT and other technology-based tools can support police investigations.
The workshop also helped officers from different districts to exchange field experiences and discuss challenges in identifying, investigating and preventing trafficking.
RRU’s National Resource Centre on Anti-Human Trafficking, a joint initiative of RRU and the India Police Foundation, undertakes research, training and professional development in the field.
Source: IANS
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