Cops use drones to bust child sex racket, rescue 39 minors
Times of India | 7 July 2026
Kolkata: Police in North Dinajpur’s Islampur used drones and monitored digital footprints in a three-day operation to bust a commercial sex racket and rescue 39 minor girls, including an 11-year-old, on Monday. Six alleged traffickers were arrested and charged under anti-trafficking laws and the POCSO Act.
The racket came to light after an NGO field worker received information that minor girls were being trafficked and forced into commercial sex work at a location in Islampur. The worker alerted two NGOs — AVA and Kosi Lok Manch — which formed joint teams with activists from Bihar and Bengal.
After confirming the girls were being held at the site, the NGOs informed the local SP. Police deployed drones and tracked digital movement before raiding the location. Some alleged traffickers managed to flee with several children despite the operation.
Thirteen of the 39 rescued girls are from Bihar and two from Bengal. The girls told police they were forced to sexually serve eight to ten clients a day and received no payment. The rescued girls were produced before a child welfare committee and moved to shelter homes.