SRINAGAR: The Government of Jammu and Kashmir has issued an order designating Station House Officers (SHOs) of JK Police, not below the rank of Inspector, along with SDPOs and DySP Headquarters, as Special Police Officers within their respective jurisdictions under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA).
The order, issued by Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary to the Government, supersedes all previous notifications on the matter. The move aims to strengthen enforcement mechanisms against human trafficking and sexual exploitation for commercial purposes.
The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, is an Indian law intended to curb human trafficking and the organized commercial exploitation of individuals. While the act does not criminalize prostitution itself, it penalizes activities such as running brothels, inducing individuals into prostitution, detaining persons for such purposes, and exploiting minors. Law enforcement agencies use the ITPA to rescue victims and prosecute traffickers, pimps, and brothel operators. (KNT)
