Jammu Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has appointed all Station House Officers (SHOs) and Sub-Divisional Police Officers (SDPOs) as Special Police Officers under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA).
This move will enable them to take swift action against human trafficking and related offenses in their jurisdictions.
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act is India’s primary law to combat commercial sexual exploitation and human trafficking.
It criminalizes activities such as running brothels, procuring individuals for prostitution, and exploiting minors for sexual purposes. The law allows police officers to raid, rescue victims, and arrest traffickers without requiring additional approvals.
With this new designation, SHOs and SDPOs can now act more effectively to dismantle trafficking networks and shut down exploitative businesses.
The act also provides for harsher penalties for crimes involving minors, including life imprisonment.
This move has been welcomed by experts, who believe it will lead to quicker action against traffickers.
However, they stress the importance of proper training for officers to ensure sensitive handling of victims and effective legal follow-up.