Belgaum : Anti-trafficking squads are being formed under Crime Investigation Department of the State police for preventing trafficking in women and girls. Such squads will be set up at district centres also.

Home Minister K J George told the Legislative Council on Thursday that investigation into cases of trafficking in women for flesh trade was in progress, and four persons have been arrested in connection with such a case in Chikkaballapur.

He said, the government, in pursuance of the High Court directions, has been taking several steps for preventing youth, particularly, girls, before taking the hasty decision of running away from home. He said programmes were being organised to create awareness on the pitfalls of such an act.

Replying to a question by Bhanprakash (BJP), George said, society needs to accept women/girls rescued after going missing due to various reasons. Bangalore and Shimoga have reported highest cases of youth going missing, he added. George said there were several reasons for youth going missing – some lured for jobs, some due to love affairs and a few misguided. Problems of acceptability too were coming to fore, he said.

In written reply to question by A H Shivyogiswamy (BJP), George said, in the past four years 15,674 children in the age group of 4-18 have gone missing and of them 8,395 were girls and 7,279 boys. Among them 12,271 have been traced of whom 6,712 are girls and 5,559 boys.

Police canteens

The minister said police canteens would be established on the lines of defence canteens where police personnel could get their necessities at subsidised prices.

Replying to a question by B Ramakrishna (BJP) George said that orders have been issued for establishing police canteens at all district centres. The canteens have been exempted from paying value added tax.

He said the government has set up schools in order to ensure quality education for the children of police personnel and they would soon be converted into residential institutions. He said a decision would soon be taken on increasing election allowance and other perks to policemen.

Opposition Leader D V Sadananda Gowda urged the government to meet the demands of police personnel on humanitarian grounds as they were not getting minimum facilities.