Bhubaneswar: Taking a suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting a rise in trafficking and missing person cases, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notices to the chief secretaries and directors general of police of five states, including Odisha — which topped the list for trafficking from 2021 to 2023 — seeking a detailed report within two weeks.According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data of 2023 — released on Sept 30 last year — the highest number of human trafficking cases was reported in Odisha, followed by Bihar, Telangana, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. Odisha recorded the highest number of human trafficking cases — especially involving minor boys — in the country in 2023, when a total of 1,305 people were trafficked from the state.Odisha topped the human trafficking chart for three consecutive years, with 1,120 trafficking victims in 2022 and 1,475 in 2021.In cases involving minor girls, Rajasthan reported the highest number.The NHRC, in a release on Friday said the report should include steps taken and proposed to address the rising number of missing people, particularly children. It also sought the latest NCRB statistical data on the status of missing people in these states.“Despite various measures taken by states, the number of missing persons is increasing and only a few of them are traced,” the commission said, adding there is suspicion that many of the trafficked children are being forced into begging, child labour, prostitution and other illegal activities.
