New Delhi, September 27: The Union Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (OIA) has ordered an inquiry into the reports of girls from the North Eastern Region being sold to night clubs in Malaysia.

"I am looking into the matter.

We have also alerted our Embassies in Singapore and Malaysia," Vayalar Ravi, OIA Minister said on Thursday.

The Minister directed the Protectorate of Emigrants (PoE) Officer to track records on the basis of which these girls were taken.

Naga Peoples' Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and Shakti Vahini lodged a complaint recently to the Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs regarding trafficking of girls from Zeliangrong community in Tamenglong district in Manipur.

The NGOs urged the Minister to investigate the matter and take immediate action so that victims of human trafficking could be rescued.

The two NGOs were alerted after three girls escaped from their traffickers in Malaysia and were rescued by a priest, Rev David.

He, in turn, got in touch with NPMHR, UNIFEM and Shakti Vahini.

NGOs claimed that as many as 150 girls were reported to have been promised jobs in Singapore but landed up in clubs in Kuala Lampur instead.

Shakti Vahini's Executive Director Ravi Kant said, "This information only hints at what could be a larger racket of human trafficking from the NE." NGOs said that a Singapore-based group was recruiting girls not just from Manipur but Guwahati, Kolkata, Dimapur and Shillong.

NGOs also claimed that five girls on their way to Singapore were intercepted and rescued at Dimapur recently.

The NE States along North Bengal have emerged as hot spots for human traffickers, who lure innocent women and children even boys with promise of jobs.

However, this is perhaps the first instance of traffickers making inroads into interior hill areas and taking girls abroad.

Human trafficking, coupled with trafficking of drugs and arms, has left the entire region in turmoil and internal strife.

Concerned over the increasing number of fake recruiting agencies, the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs has planned to strengthen the Emigration Act that will allow authorities to take stringent action against fraudulent agents.

amendments to the legislation are in the pipeline.