Bhubaneswar: Odisha has earned the infamy of being the state with the highest number of victims of human trafficking in the country for the third consecutive year, according to the latest report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
The state reported 1,305 such cases, surpassing Maharashtra (935) and Telangana (626).
Interestingly, more men (661) than women (644) were trafficked in 2023, with 26.7% of victims (348) being minors, including 181 girls. In comparison, 1,120 people (502 women) were trafficked in 2022, and 1,475 (735 women) in 2021.
The primary reasons for trafficking included forced labour, sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, forced marriage, and petty crimes.
Odisha also led in rescues, with 1,246 trafficked victims being brought back in 2023, which included 649 men, 597 women, and 342 below 18 years.
However, in terms of cases registered, Odisha ranked third (162) behind Maharashtra (388) and Telangana (336). The year 2023 also saw 298 people being arrested on charges of human trafficking. While 182 were charge-sheeted, 22 acquitted or discharged by the courts.