In the serene villages of Gumla, IPS officer Ehtesham Waquarib embarked on a bold mission — rescuing trafficked children and restoring their lost dreams. Before gaining recognition for his work in Jamtara, this 2015-batch Jharkhand cadre officer encountered a silent yet harrowing crisis in Gumla.
A Hidden Crisis Beneath Quiet Landscapes
As Superintendent of Police, Waquarib quickly sensed the unsettling truth beneath Gumla’s calm forests and quiet hamlets — children disappearing, families grieving in silence, and traffickers exploiting innocence behind closed doors.
Rather than treating each report of a missing child as an isolated incident, he began a deeper investigation — analyzing five years of data to uncover disturbing patterns. What he found was alarming: many children, especially young girls, had been deceitfully taken to major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolkata, lured by false promises of employment. There, they were trapped in domestic servitude, hidden from public view and lost to their families.
From Data to Daring Rescues
Data provided direction, but action required courage. Waquarib’s team began rebuilding connections — talking to families, collecting even fragments of information like faint phone numbers or half-remembered names.
Collaborating across state borders with police units from India’s largest cities, they launched rescue missions that spanned hundreds of kilometers. Slum raids, confrontations with traffickers, and emotional reunions became common. In just two years, they successfully recovered over 50 children who had vanished into darkness.
Rebuilding Lives After Rescue
For Waquarib, rescuing a child was only the beginning. “A rescue means little if they return to a life of fear and poverty,” he insists.
The team worked tirelessly to reintegrate the children into society. Some were re-admitted into school, welcomed back with the support of empathetic educators. Others received vocational training in trades like tailoring, carpentry, and computing, empowering them with skills to rebuild their future.
Recognition and Impact
In 2023, Waquarib’s innovative and humane approach was honored with the Smart Policing Award by FICCI. Yet for him, the real reward lies in watching rescued children return to classrooms or launch small ventures with newfound hope and dignity.
The Fight Continues
Human trafficking is not limited by geography. Children from Gumla can be exploited in faraway cities, hidden in places no one thinks to look. Tackling this crisis requires relentless coordination, cross-border teamwork, and an informed community that knows how to recognize danger. Waquarib’s message is clear: awareness is the first line of defense. When communities remain alert, traffickers lose ground.
