Assam launches policy to combat human trafficking and witch-hunting
| 2025-05-17
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Assam introduces a state-wide policy to tackle human trafficking and witch-hunting, aiming to protect vulnerable groups and ensure coordinated legal action.
The government of Assam has formally notified a policy aimed at addressing human trafficking and witch-hunting—two long-standing and socially harmful crimes in the region. The Assam State Policy to Combat Human Trafficking and End Witch-Hunting was announced by the Department of Women and Child Development and comes into effect following its publication in the official gazette.
The policy outlines a coordinated approach to preventing these crimes, rescuing victims, prosecuting offenders, and rehabilitating survivors. Committees will be established at the state, district, and local levels to facilitate ground-level action, with multiple government departments designated as core and allied stakeholders.
According to the policy document, Assam's strategic location—bordering six other northeastern Indian states, as well as Bhutan, Bangladesh, and West Bengal—makes it a transit hub for human trafficking networks. The state’s transportation infrastructure is frequently exploited by traffickers to move women and children both within and beyond its borders.
“Given Assam’s geographical vulnerability and the organised nature of trafficking, a multi-sectoral strategy is essential,” the policy states. It also identifies witch-hunting as a deeply entrenched social crime, often linked to superstition, stigma, and gender-based violence in rural and tribal communities.
The new policy reinforces legal frameworks already in place, such as the Assam Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Prevention and Protection) Act of 2018. This law classifies witch-hunting as a cognisable, non-bailable, and non-compoundable offence. While it has led to a reduction in incidents, the practice persists in some parts of the state.
Between 2022 and 2024, 32 cases of witch-hunting were officially registered by Assam Police. Human trafficking, meanwhile, remains more prevalent, with 690 cases recorded over the past four years. In 2024 alone, authorities reported the arrest of 700 traffickers and the rescue of 900 victims, according to data shared by state officials.
The Chief Minister’s Office, in a social media post, described the policy as a “significant move to safeguard human rights and uphold dignity.”
Implementation Strategy
Under the new policy, the Department of Women and Child Development will act as the central coordinating body. Funding will be sourced from dedicated budget lines and existing social welfare programmes, such as Mission Shakti and Mission Vatsalya.
Specialist roles are expected to be created under the policy’s provisions, including Anti-Human Trafficking Officers and a State-level Nodal Officer. These officials will be supported by existing Anti-Human Trafficking Units under India’s Ministry of Home Affairs. Their responsibilities will include victim rescue, case investigation, and coordination with law enforcement.
The policy also mandates the use of awareness campaigns and education initiatives to dismantle the cultural and social drivers behind both crimes. In cases of witch-hunting, which often target women for unexplained deaths, illnesses, or misfortunes, community engagement and legal enforcement will be key to prevention.
According to the policy document, accusations of witchcraft are sometimes used to justify property disputes or social exclusion. Women branded as witches have faced violence, exile, and in some cases, death.
Context
Witch-hunting has a historical presence in parts of India, especially among marginalised communities, where illiteracy and superstition remain high. Assam, home to large numbers of tribal populations and tea garden workers, has witnessed repeated incidents despite legislative efforts.
Human trafficking, meanwhile, is a growing global concern. According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, trafficking remains one of the fastest-growing international crimes. In India, states like Assam, which serve as both sources and transit points for trafficking, are considered high-risk zones.
The National Crime Records Bureau reported 203 human trafficking cases in Assam in 2021, making it the third-highest in the country behind Telangana and Maharashtra. The majority of these cases involved women and children trafficked for forced labour, sexual exploitation, or domestic servitude.
By launching this new policy, the Assam government aims to move beyond reactive law enforcement and towards a proactive, systemic approach focused on prevention, protection, and social reintegration.
Authorities have stated their long-term goal is to foster “a safe and equal society wherein all individuals can claim their entitlements and access all services.”
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