Bagerhat, Apr 2 (UNB) - Detectives rescued 31 people, including 10 women and 11 children, from New Court area in the district town this (Monday) morning while they were being taken to Jessore to be trafficked to India.

Two alleged members of the human trafficking gang-Abdul Hakim Khan, 25, son of Ismail Khan of Badnibhanga village, and Oli Gazi, 25, of Surujkathi village, in Morelganj upazila-- were also arrested in this connection.

The rescued are Sarmin AKhter, 18, Lipi Akhter, 21, Minara Akhter, 32, Faima Khanam, 23, Khadiza Akhter, 25, Rashida Parvin, 25, Sheuli Begum, 22, Pari Begum, 30, Nasrin Akhter, 12, Ripa Akhter, 22, Reshma Khatun, 8, Milon Sheikh, 8, Sukhi Akhter 2, Salma, 3, Shafiqul Islam, 12, Rafiqul Islam, 7, Rahat Sheikh, 7, Joba Akhter, 2, Nadira, 2, Khairul Islam, 8, Alamgir Farazi, 50, Barek Hawlader, 45, Zakir Hossain ,33, Monir Hossain, 35, Rafiqul Islam, 32, Halim Akhter, 45, Firoz Sheikh, 23, Imdadul Farazi, 20, Abdul Rahim, 20, Miraj Sheikh 40, and Belal Gazi, 23.

All the victims hailed from Morelganj, Sharankhola upazilas of the district and Zianagar upazila of Pirojpur district.

Acting on secret information that gangsters brought some gullible people in the area to traffick them to the neighbouring country through Benapole border, a team of the Detective Branch of police conducted a drive there and rescued the victims, said police super Khandaker Rafiqul Islam.

Later, they rescued the 31 people and arrested two traffickers. Other gang members, however, managed to flee the scene, he said.

Rescued Minara, Monir and Khairul said the traffickers were sending them to Bangalore of India after alluring them of good jobs there.

A case was filed in this connection.