Nagpur News
Nagpur City Police Launches ‘Operation Shakti’ to Combat Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation
In a groundbreaking move, Nagpur City Police has ramped up its fight against human trafficking and sexual exploitation with the launch of ‘Operation Shakti’, a comprehensive citywide campaign spearheaded by Commissioner of Police Dr. Ravindra Kumar Singal.This initiative builds on the establishment of the District Action Group (DAG) in October 2024 — India’s first-ever multi-agency anti-trafficking coordination unit at the district level.
The DAG brings together representatives from the police, District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Women and Child Development (WCD), Railway Protection Force (RPF), Government Railway Police (GRP), Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), Child Welfare Committee (CWC), Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), and civil society organizations. Since its inception, the DAG has made significant progress, registering 24 FIRs, rescuing 42 women including 8 minors, and arresting 44 accused individuals.
As part of Operation Shakti, authorities have mapped over 330 trafficking hotspots across Nagpur, including flats, lodges, spas, and highways frequently exploited for illegal activities. To bolster surveillance, 22 facial recognition cameras have been installed in high-risk zones. Additionally, women help desks have been established in all 33 police stations, while 24/7 help centres at Cotton Market and Ganeshpeth bus stands were inaugurated by Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule.
During a recent DAG stakeholders meeting, two critical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) were introduced — one focused on digital crime scene management and the other on action protocols against private premises implicated in trafficking. The Nagpur Police also intensified efforts through campaigns such as ‘Police Didi’, Damini Squad patrols, and Operation Shodh aimed at tracing missing children.
Principal Secretary Vinita Ved Singal emphasized the importance of transparency in adoption procedures and robust identity tracking for rescued minors. Experts including former DGP Dr. P.M. Nair, DLSA Secretary Praveen Umale, and RPF official Sreekumar Kurup contributed valuable insights.Commissioner Singal reinforced that Operation Shakti is a sustained mission, stating, “Like Operation Thunder and Operation U-Turn, this campaign will dismantle trafficking networks through technology, vigilance, and coordinated action.”
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