Police in Assam’s Tinsukia district arrested Peter Sona (44), the alleged mastermind behind a child trafficking ring targeting vulnerable tea garden communities. Sona was apprehended on Wednesday from his hideout in the Pengeri area by a police team from Philobari police station.
Authorities suspect Sona was involved in trafficking at least six children, smuggling them across the border to Arunachal Pradesh for forced labor. The arrest followed the capture of six of his associates, including Dipak Phukan, who was caught by villagers in Duarmara Singpho village trying to abduct a minor. Phukan’s interrogation led to the arrests of five others—Umakanta Chetri, Boby Deori Sona, Rohit Khadal, Peter Sabashi, and Ajit Munda—before Sona was finally caught.
Ajit Sonowal, Officer-in-Charge of Philobari police station on Thursday said, “Peter Sona has been taken into custody following specific intelligence. We had already detained six of his aides, but he remained at large until now. We are continuing our investigation.”
Police also seized a car, registration number AS-23-AF-5952, believed to have transported trafficked children. Sources say Sona exploited his former role in the Assam Tea Tribe Students’ Association (ATTSA) to gain the trust of Adivasi tea garden families and lure children with false promises. “He trafficked children to Arunachal Pradesh, where they were forced into domestic work. He misused his ATTSA affiliation to deceive innocent families,” said a source.
An ATTSA leader condemned the crime, saying, “Peter Sona betrayed the trust of poor Adivasi families by exploiting his former position. We demand the strictest punishment for his heinous acts.”
