Maharashtra Ranks Second in India With 337 Human Trafficking Cases in 2024

Maharashtra has been ranked the second-worst affected state for human trafficking in India after registering 337 cases in 2024, according to the latest National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. The report highlighted that women and girls remained the primary targets of organized trafficking syndicates operating across the state, even as local law enforcement agencies stepped up rescue operations.

The state's 337 cases in 2024 follow 388 cases recorded in 2023 and 295 cases in 2022. Telangana reported the highest number of human trafficking cases in the country with 423 cases during the same period.

According to the NCRB's Crime in India 2024 report, a total of 892 victims were identified in Maharashtra during the year. This group included 798 adult women, 52 minor girls, 26 minor boys, and 16 adult men. The statistics underscore that females continue to bear the brunt of these crimes.

Despite the active presence of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) across various districts, organized criminal networks continue to exploit vulnerable individuals. However, police and investigating agencies successfully rescued 885 of the identified victims during the year.

The rescued individuals included 808 Indian nationals, 20 Bangladeshi nationals, and 57 foreign nationals, indicating a cross-border element to the trafficking operations.

Commercial sexual exploitation, including forced prostitution, remained the dominant motive behind human trafficking in Maharashtra, accounting for 829 of the victims. Additionally, 46 individuals were trafficked for forced labor, while four victims were trafficked for forced marriage.

The NCRB report noted that trafficking syndicates continue to use coercion or false promises to lure victims into prostitution, domestic servitude, bonded labor, child marriage, organized begging, and the illegal sale of newborns.