‘Sale’ of Covid orphans triggers verification of 6,000 NGOs in Kashmir

 

In the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, authorities have initiated verification and fresh registration of around 6,000 non-governmental agencies after a case of human trafficking surfaced in the valley. At least two Covid orphans were found to have been ‘sold’ by an NGO, leading to registration of FIR against the group and arrest of two persons allegedly involved in the human trafficking.

Officials said that an investigation was launched by the Police, one FIR registered and two persons of Sambora, Pampore, arrested after it was reported in the national media that some individuals had indulged in offering young Covid orphans for adoption against monetary considerations by some individuals outside Jammu and Kashmir. A collective of clergymen issued an appeal for a “sustained campaign” against trafficking of the young Kashmiri children whose parents had died due to the pandemic in the last 20 months.

According to the officials, the Police Station of Pampore received a written application from Chairperson of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) District Pulwama for registration of FIR in the instant case. FIR No: 153 of 2021 was filed on Wednesday and the accused— Mohammad Amin Rather of Bemina and Aijaz Ahmed Dar of Pampore—were arrested after preliminary verification. They were found running a ‘trust’ by the title of Global Welfare Charitable Trust. It was immediately sealed and its documents and records were seized.

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