Agartala, December 23, 2025: A disturbing case of suspected human trafficking has emerged from the tea garden belts of Kailashahar in Tripura’s Unakoti district, where over 30 youths and minors were allegedly lured to Arunachal Pradesh with false promises of lucrative jobs, only to be subjected to inhuman conditions and forced labor.
Local sources and a formal complaint lodged with Kailashahar Police Station informed that the victims, mostly from impoverished families in Rangrung and Kalishashan tea garden areas under Chandipur Assembly constituency were approached by a trafficking network that exploited their economic vulnerability. The incident reportedly began on December 09, when several families returned from work to find their sons missing. The youths later contacted their families, claiming they had been offered jobs with monthly wages of Rs 12,000– Rs 14,000 and were given Rs 2,000 in advance before departure.
However, the reality was grim. The victims reached their destination only on the night of December 12 and were allegedly taken deep into forested areas of Meghalaya or Arunachal Pradesh, where they were forced to work in orange orchards under harsh conditions. The advance payment was reportedly confiscated by the employer, and the workers were denied basic necessities such as food, shelter, and hygiene. They were made to live in makeshift plastic sheds and faced physical abuse for minor mistakes, such as dropping fruit during harvest.
Fearful of retaliation, many victims are now unable to speak freely over the phone. The families have identified three contact numbers used by the victims: 600902699, 8837415696, and 8729911964.
The trafficking route allegedly involved Budhuram Urang, a local resident who introduced the job opportunity, and Om Prakash Upadhyay, who reportedly transported the victims in a tightly packed covered truck. The ordeal began as soon as they boarded the vehicle, with reports of mistreatment en route.
On December 23, anguished mothers, sisters, wives and children of the missing individuals submitted a written complaint to Kailashahar Police Station, listing 24 names, 10 from Kailashahar and 14 from Rangrung. They fear the actual number of victims may be higher and demand immediate action to dismantle the trafficking network.
The list includes minors such as Tarjen Sabar (14), Sainik Sabar (15), and Sajen Bauri (16), alongside adults like Budhuram Goala (50), Manik Bauri (43), and Sunil Sabar (50).
In response, Tripura’s Minister for Youth Affairs & Sports, Social Welfare & Social Education and Labour, Tinku Roy has written to Arunachal Pradesh’s Labour Minister Nyato Dukam, urging swift intervention. In his letter dated December 23, Roy emphasized the grave violation of child rights and human dignity, calling for the immediate rescue and repatriation of the victims. Copies of the letter were also sent to the Labour Commissioners of both states for coordinated action.
Meanwhile, OC Tapas Roy of Kailashahar Police Station told Northeast Today, “A group of parents and guardians have submitted a written complaint alleging that two individuals, reportedly one from Arunachal Pradesh and another local, lured their family members including juveniles with promises of jobs. On December 9, around 30 people left along with the two accused. After a few days, the guardians have been unable to reach the youths over phone. Accordingly, a formal complaint has been filed. We have registered the case and initiated an investigation.”
The incident has sparked serious questions about administrative oversight and the effectiveness of labor department surveillance in vulnerable regions. Locals warn that without urgent intervention, Tripura’s tea garden belts risk becoming corridors for human trafficking.
