Baruipur Police District, Biswa Bangla, Govt. of West Bengal, and International Justice Mission, Kolkata, inaugurated a caravan vehicle and placed banners in all 17 police stations across Baruipur district. This collaboration is an initiative to raise awareness among the masses and combat issues of human trafficking thereby making the district trafficking free zone.

A ‘Puja Guide Map’ and ‘Online Puja Parikrama App’ was also launched in the presence of Shri Biman Banerjee, Hon’ble Speaker, WB Legislative Assembly, Shri Subhashis Chakrabarty, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, and Mr. Saji Philip, Director of Operations, International Justice Mission (IJM), Kolkata.

The vehicle will be strategically placed at important junctions where the crowd would gather. It will also distribute sweets to the children giving them a friendly idea that police can be approached anytime for anything suspicious that requires immediate action. The Caravan will patrol for 15 days during the peak puja season. It will have pre-recorded messages broadcasting the issue of human trafficking and to act on by taking appropriate steps to combat it.

It has been noted that South 24 Parganas is one of the most significant source areas for trafficking in West Bengal in comparison to other districts. Initiatives like this are taken to help reach the goal of making the area trafficking free zone.