The National Investigation Agency (NIA) apprehended businessman Ghulam Raza from Durgapur, West Bengal, on charges related to human trafficking, particularly of women. Raza, who relocated from Bihar to Durgapur with his family three years ago, is accused of facilitating overseas employment for migrant workers through a travel agency he was associated with. However, he allegedly engaged in a scheme involving forged passports for workers destined for West Asian countries.
Raza’s arrest followed a raid by NIA officials and local police forces at his residence, revealing his purported involvement in trafficking activities. It is reported that Raza personally traveled to the countries where he sent workers and trafficked women. Following intensive questioning during the operation, Raza was taken into custody and is expected to appear before an NIA court in Kolkata, with further interrogation planned to uncover his network of associates.
In response to the escalating caseload in West Bengal, the state cabinet, under Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, sanctioned the establishment of an NIA Police Station in Kolkata. This decision aims to alleviate the investigative agency’s operational burden, as its eastern regional headquarters in Salt Lake, Kolkata, currently manages all activities. The proposed NIA police station is a strategic move to enhance the agency’s efficiency in addressing the rising number of cases in the state.
