A routine check by alert railway staff on the New Jalpaiguri–Patna Capital Express led to the rescue of 56 women from a suspected human trafficking operation. The young women, aged 18 to 31, were all from Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar, and Alipurduar districts of West Bengal.
Suspicion arose when railway personnel noticed that none of the women carried valid tickets or identification documents, and their coach and berth numbers were stamped on their hands — a red flag during standard verification. The women claimed they were heading to Bengaluru for jobs, yet they were found en route to Bihar, triggering further concerns.
Two individuals — a man and a woman — accompanying the group were unable to justify the purpose of travel or provide proof of employment. They were immediately arrested by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at New Jalpaiguri station in Siliguri.
The women have since been sent back home, while a joint investigation by the RPF and Railway Police is underway, focusing on the human trafficking angle. Authorities suspect this to be part of a larger trafficking network, which often lures vulnerable women with false promises of employment.
West Bengal has a dedicated Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) under its CID. Victims or informants can reach them at 033-24506114.
This incident underscores the critical need for vigilance in public transport systems and stronger anti-trafficking enforcement mechanisms.