Baduria fallout: Government panel to curb child trafficking

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced  on the floor of the  Assembly that a new new committee will be set up to keep a strict, round-the-clock vigil on private hospitals and NGOs to curb child trafficking in the state. The committee, comprising administrative and political representatives, will be headed by parliamentary affairs  minister Partha Chatterjee, will also include leader of opposition Abdul Mannan and Left Front legislature party leader Sujan Chakraborty. The other members of the panel will be state chief secretary, home secretary, health secretary state  director general of police.and Kolkata police commissioner. The committee will hold a meeting every month and submit a report to the state government.

Flagging the issue for the first time since the racket was unearthed on November 21, Ms Banerjee told the House that the incident was unfortunate and worrisome.

“Around 20 people have been arrested, some with political affiliation. If the committee finds a political person tried to shield any accused, strong action will be taken irrespective of the party he belongs to,” Ms Banerjee said. She also said that the racket was spread across states like Tamil Nadu, Gwalior and Pune. “If a political leader is found to be encouraging  this racket, it would be treated as a crime,” she said.