Telangana ranks 2nd in human trafficking cases nationwide in 2023: NCRB

HYDERABAD: Telangana recorded the second-highest number of human trafficking victims in the country in 2023, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report released on September 30, 2025.

The state registered 336 cases under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) related to human trafficking, slightly lower than the 391 cases reported in 2022. The charge-sheeting rate was 100%, but the conviction rate remained poor at 3.7%, with only three convictions out of 82 trials completed.

Over 600 victims trafficked, majority women

In 2023, a total of 626 persons were trafficked in Telangana, of which 604 were women. Among them, 35 were children below 18 years. Authorities rescued nearly all of the victims — 591 women and 35 children.

The primary purpose was sexual exploitation, with traffickers forcing 597 victims into it, while smaller numbers were trafficked for forced marriage, begging, and other reasons. No one reported cases of domestic servitude.

Cases under ITPA and IPC

Under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (ITPA), authorities registered 57 cases involving 67 women victims, along with five cases of procuring persons, involving 22 victims. Additionally, law enforcement registered 298 cases under IPC Sections 370 and 370A, with 442 victims.

The state also reported 76 cases of procuration of minor girls under Section 366A of the IPC, involving an equal number of victims.

Low conviction rate raises concern

During 2023, police arrested 1,058 persons for trafficking-related offences and charge-sheeted 873. However, only nine persons were convicted, while 238 were acquitted or discharged.

Telangana ranked second in the country in overall trafficking victims and third in victims trafficked for sexual exploitation.