Ashutosh Kumar after his arrest at Patna Junction. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, Jan. 8: Government Railway Police (GRP) today arrested a man from Patna Junction on charges of human trafficking.

Ashutosh Kumar, 27, who hails from Vaishali district, was caught after he sent 15 labourers to Chennai from the station. Elaborating the details on the illegal trafficking of labourers, GRP inspector Ramakant Prasad said: “We arrested Ashutosh from platform number one when he was returning after despatching a group of 15 labourers to Chennai by Sanghmitra Express. He used to lure children as well as adults with jobs and then send them into other states.”

Ramakant said these labourers were asked to assemble at one place from where they are sent to their respective destinations.

“Ashutosh sends them on the orders of a Chennai-based man, Dhiraj Mishra. For sending every team of 10 or more labourers, Ashutosh earns Rs 2,000. Once the labourers reach their destinations, the money is transferred to their accounts.”

The GRP officer said they have busted such a gang for the first time.

Ramakant said they have apprised the Chennai police about the group of labourers.