Police authorities from India’s western state of Gujarat grilled at least&nbsp;20 passengers who were on the Nicaragua-bound flight in France, after the plane with over 300 on board was grounded over suspicions of human trafficking following a tip off.&nbsp;

The interrogation was done to find out if some sort of illegal immigration network was running, media reports said citing a senior official.

This comes after the French court finally allowed the passengers to leave France four days, following which the Nicaragua-bound aircraft, an Airbus A340, landed in Mumbai on December 26.

The plane landed in Mumbai had a total of 276 passengers onboard. Reports citing a top state Crime Investigation Department (CID) official, said that at least 60 out of the total passengers were from Gujarat. These people have already arrived in their native state and their interrogation is undergoing.

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Notably, the police authorities are trying to find out if these people boarded a '<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-donkey-flights-what-it-means-and-the-modus-operandi-behind-risky-border-crossings-674766">donkey flight</a>' to seek entry into the US and if they aspired to do that after reaching Latin America.&nbsp;

"They were sent back from France. There was a rumour they had planned to enter the US illegally after landing in Nicaragua. In their statements, they told us they were going there as tourists. We are going into the details to find out who were the agents behind their trip," S P Rajkumar, Additional Director General of Police, CID - Crime and Railways, reportedly said.&nbsp;

The top IPS officer said,&nbsp;"We are verifying their documents to ascertain whether they used genuine or forged documents to proceed to Central America. We will also check their financial transactions because, ideally, they should not have paid more if they were going there as normal tourists and not with any other intention."&nbsp;

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"Though we have started questioning, no one is divulging facts. They claim they went there as tourists. We are investigating the case from all angles," he added.

<h2>Four teams formed&nbsp;</h2>

CID has already created a total of four teams&nbsp;to probe the matter, as per Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime), Sanjay Kharat.&nbsp;

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"The CID (crime) wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding promises made to them by these agents," he&nbsp;reportedly said.

(With inputs from agencies)

Police authorities from India’s western state of Gujarat grilled at least 20 passengers who were on the Nicaragua-bound flight in France, after the plane with over 300 on board was grounded over suspicions of human trafficking following a tip off.

Police authorities from India’s western state of Gujarat grilled at least 20 passengers who were on the Nicaragua-bound flight in France, after the plane with over 300 on board was grounded over suspicions of human trafficking following a tip off. The interrogation was done to find out if some sort of illegal immigration network was running, media reports said citing a senior official. This comes after the French court finally allowed the passengers to leave France four days, following which the Nicaragua-bound aircraft, an Airbus A340, landed in Mumbai on December 26. The plane landed in Mumbai had a total of 276 passengers onboard. Reports citing a top state Crime Investigation Department (CID) official, said that at least 60 out of the total passengers were from Gujarat. These people have already arrived in their native state and their interrogation is undergoing. Also Read | ISRO 2023 Rewind - To the Moon and back, in preparation for Chandrayaan-4 Notably, the police authorities are trying to find out if these people boarded a 'donkey flight' to seek entry into the US and if they aspired to do that after reaching Latin America. "They were sent back from France. There was a rumour they had planned to enter the US illegally after landing in Nicaragua. In their statements, they told us they were going there as tourists. We are going into the details to find out who were the agents behind their trip," S P Rajkumar, Additional Director General of Police, CID - Crime and Railways, reportedly said. The top IPS officer said, "We are verifying their documents to ascertain whether they used genuine or forged documents to proceed to Central America. We will also check their financial transactions because, ideally, they should not have paid more if they were going there as normal tourists and not with any other intention." Also Read | Israeli Embassy blast | Delhi Police registers FIR against unknown individuals. Investigation so far... "Though we have started questioning, no one is divulging facts. They claim they went there as tourists. We are investigating the case from all angles," he added. Four teams formed CID has already created a total of four teams to probe the matter, as per Superintendent of Police, CID (Crime), Sanjay Kharat. Watch | Pak's response to India's request: No bilateral extradition treaty exists × "The CID (crime) wants to take action against agents who had promised help to the victims to enter the US and other countries (illegally). We have formed four teams which will get information from the victims regarding promises made to them by these agents," he reportedly said. (With inputs from agencies)

France plane row: Gujarat police grill 20 people who were on Nicaragua-bound flight

The US on Thursday retained India in Tier 2 list of countries in its<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-adds-saudi-arabia-cuba-in-human-trafficking-blacklist-china-myanmar-remain-on-list-229035"> annual report on human trafficking</a>, arguing that the country does not fully meet the minimum standards for its elimination even as it is making progress.

Tier 2 is for those countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA's minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards.

TVPA stands for Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which is a Congressional legislation that requires an annual report from the State Department on status of human trafficking in countries across the world. There are more than 90 countries in Tier 2.

In its India section of the report, the State Department said that the Indian Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so.

"The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore, India remained on Tier 2," said the annual report for the year 2018.

"These efforts included convicting traffickers, initiating a high-profile investigation into one case that allegedly involved officials complicit in sex trafficking at a government-funded shelter, and continuing to raise awareness of trafficking," he added.

The government took some action following reports of government complicity in forced labour and sex trafficking, although the systemic failure to address forced labour and sex trafficking in government-run and government-funded shelter homes remained a serious problem, it said.

The government did not report information on investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of traffickers, or on trafficking victims identified and referred to care, the State Department said.

According to the report, the government's efforts to address bonded labour remained insufficient compared to the scale of the problem, and in the majority of reported cases officials did not follow the law requiring provision of release certificates and compensation to bonded laborers removed from exploitation, which prevented victims from accessing government services and in some cases led to their re-victimization.

The State Department in its report recommended India to increase investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of all forms of trafficking, including bonded labour.

It urged India to vigorously investigate allegations of official complicity in human trafficking and sentence perpetrators to significant prison terms and develop and immediately implement regular monitoring mechanisms of government-run and government-funded shelters to ensure appropriate quality of care, and promptly disburse funding to shelters that meet official standards for care.

The report among other things also recommend establishment of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts with clear mandates, dedicated funding, and specially trained staff.&nbsp;

"Amend the definition of trafficking in Section 370 of the Penal Code to include forced labour trafficking and ensure that force, fraud, or coercion are not required to prove a child sex trafficking offense," it said.

It also recommended India to cease forcible detention of adult trafficking victims in government-run and government-funded shelters and eliminate all recruitment fees charged to workers.

The US on Thursday retained India in Tier 2 list of countries in its annual report on human trafficking, arguing that the country does not fully meet the minimum standards for its elimination even as it is making progress.

The US on Thursday retained India in Tier 2 list of countries in its annual report on human trafficking, arguing that the country does not fully meet the minimum standards for its elimination even as it is making progress. Tier 2 is for those countries whose governments do not fully meet the TVPA's minimum standards but are making significant efforts to bring themselves into compliance with those standards. TVPA stands for Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, which is a Congressional legislation that requires an annual report from the State Department on status of human trafficking in countries across the world. There are more than 90 countries in Tier 2. In its India section of the report, the State Department said that the Indian Government does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so. "The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared to the previous reporting period; therefore, India remained on Tier 2," said the annual report for the year 2018. "These efforts included convicting traffickers, initiating a high-profile investigation into one case that allegedly involved officials complicit in sex trafficking at a government-funded shelter, and continuing to raise awareness of trafficking," he added. The government took some action following reports of government complicity in forced labour and sex trafficking, although the systemic failure to address forced labour and sex trafficking in government-run and government-funded shelter homes remained a serious problem, it said. The government did not report information on investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of traffickers, or on trafficking victims identified and referred to care, the State Department said. According to the report, the government's efforts to address bonded labour remained insufficient compared to the scale of the problem, and in the majority of reported cases officials did not follow the law requiring provision of release certificates and compensation to bonded laborers removed from exploitation, which prevented victims from accessing government services and in some cases led to their re-victimization. The State Department in its report recommended India to increase investigations, prosecutions, and convictions of all forms of trafficking, including bonded labour. It urged India to vigorously investigate allegations of official complicity in human trafficking and sentence perpetrators to significant prison terms and develop and immediately implement regular monitoring mechanisms of government-run and government-funded shelters to ensure appropriate quality of care, and promptly disburse funding to shelters that meet official standards for care. The report among other things also recommend establishment of Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) in all districts with clear mandates, dedicated funding, and specially trained staff. "Amend the definition of trafficking in Section 370 of the Penal Code to include forced labour trafficking and ensure that force, fraud, or coercion are not required to prove a child sex trafficking offense," it said. It also recommended India to cease forcible detention of adult trafficking victims in government-run and government-funded shelters and eliminate all recruitment fees charged to workers.

US human trafficking report: Government made 'efforts' but India remains in Tier-2

US&nbsp;lawmakers said on Tuesday they were concerned that Malaysia and India were rated too favourably in this year&#39;s state department human trafficking report,&nbsp;although the report seemed less influenced by politics than last year&#39;s.

The US&nbsp;Department of State&#39;s closely watched annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report was released on June 30.

After last year&#39;s report provoked a firestorm of controversy, the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees held hearings on Tuesday to review this year&#39;s findings.

A low ranking is a black mark on a country&#39;s reputation, and can subject a government to sanctions limiting access to aid from the United States, the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank.

Last year, members of Congress and human rights groups said some countries&#39; ratings were changed for political reasons.

For example, over the objections of State Department experts, Malaysia was upgraded in 2015, despite authorities&#39; discovering mass graves of trafficking victims and rights groups&#39; reporting continued forced labour in its palm oil, construction and electronics industries.

On Tuesday, lawmakers again questioned why Malaysia had not been downgraded. &quot;It&#39;s hard to understand that they&#39;ve made progress in 2016,&quot; Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said.&nbsp;Susan Coppedge, who runs the state department&#39;s trafficking office, told lawmakers that Malaysia and India had both made improvements.&nbsp; 
 
Some lawmakers and rights groups said Malaysia&#39;s 2016 ranking seemed to reflect President Barack Obama&#39;s advocacy for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, which would include Malaysia.

Labour unions oppose the TPP, which they fear could lead to US&nbsp;job losses, while doing nothing to improve the treatment of workers in member countries.

In connection with Tuesday&#39;s hearings, the Communications Workers of America union questioned whether the TPP continued to influence the ratings of Malaysia and Thailand.

Senator Bob Corker, the Senate panel&#39;s Republican chairman, asked why India was rated Tier 2, saying that there are an estimated 12 million slaves in the country.

&quot;The report highlights some progress, but official complicity in trafficking is widespread, victim protection is inadequate and inconsistent,&quot; he said.

The TIP report organises countries into tiers: Tier 1 for nations meeting minimum US&nbsp;standards; Tier 2 for those making significant efforts to meet those standards; Tier 2 &quot;Watch List&quot; for those deserving special scrutiny, and Tier 3 for countries failing to comply with minimum standards and not making significant efforts. 
 
(Reuters)

Some say Malaysia's 2016 ranking reflects Barack Obama's advocacy for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact

US lawmakers said on Tuesday they were concerned that Malaysia and India were rated too favourably in this year's state department human trafficking report, although the report seemed less influenced by politics than last year's. The US Department of State's closely watched annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report was released on June 30. After last year's report provoked a firestorm of controversy, the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs committees held hearings on Tuesday to review this year's findings. A low ranking is a black mark on a country's reputation, and can subject a government to sanctions limiting access to aid from the United States, the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. Last year, members of Congress and human rights groups said some countries' ratings were changed for political reasons. For example, over the objections of State Department experts, Malaysia was upgraded in 2015, despite authorities' discovering mass graves of trafficking victims and rights groups' reporting continued forced labour in its palm oil, construction and electronics industries. On Tuesday, lawmakers again questioned why Malaysia had not been downgraded. "It's hard to understand that they've made progress in 2016," Senator Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said. Susan Coppedge, who runs the state department's trafficking office, told lawmakers that Malaysia and India had both made improvements. Some lawmakers and rights groups said Malaysia's 2016 ranking seemed to reflect President Barack Obama's advocacy for the 12-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade pact, which would include Malaysia. Labour unions oppose the TPP, which they fear could lead to US job losses, while doing nothing to improve the treatment of workers in member countries. In connection with Tuesday's hearings, the Communications Workers of America union questioned whether the TPP continued to influence the ratings of Malaysia and Thailand. Senator Bob Corker, the Senate panel's Republican chairman, asked why India was rated Tier 2, saying that there are an estimated 12 million slaves in the country. "The report highlights some progress, but official complicity in trafficking is widespread, victim protection is inadequate and inconsistent," he said. The TIP report organises countries into tiers: Tier 1 for nations meeting minimum US standards; Tier 2 for those making significant efforts to meet those standards; Tier 2 "Watch List" for those deserving special scrutiny, and Tier 3 for countries failing to comply with minimum standards and not making significant efforts. (Reuters)

Malaysia, India rated 'favourably' in human trafficking reports, despite millions of slaves