Four Individuals Arrested in Bareilly for Trafficking and Exploiting 15-Year-Old Girl
In a distressing case of human trafficking, police in Bareilly have apprehended four people, including a woman from Nepal, for their alleged involvement in forcing a 15-year-old girl from Varanasi into prostitution. The arrests were made following the girl's courageous escape from a hotel where she was being held captive.
Escape Leads to Police Action
The incident came to light three days ago when the minor, who had left her home on January 5 after a dispute with her parents over household chores, managed to flee from a hotel and seek help at a local police station. Based on her detailed statement, authorities swiftly moved to arrest the accused on Saturday.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Vinod, Neha Khan, Jasleen Kaur, and Durga Lavati, who hails from Nepal's Panchthar district. Police are still searching for another associate, Khalil Khan, who remains at large.
Trafficking and Coercion Details Unveiled
Senior Superintendent of Police Anurag Arya provided chilling details of the case. According to the victim's account, after leaving home, she met a woman named Riya at Varanasi junction. Riya took her in for a few days before transporting her to Bareilly, where she was allegedly sold to Neha Khan.
"Khan and her associate Vinod confined the girl and forced her into the sex trade using a fake Aadhaar card with a falsified birth year of 2007 to present her as an adult," stated SSP Arya, highlighting the calculated deception employed by the traffickers.
Physical and Psychological Abuse Reported
SP (City) Manush Pareek further elaborated on the horrific conditions endured by the teenager. "She was taken to various hotels, where she alleged she was beaten and threatened when she resisted the exploitation. Despite developing infections and fever, she was only given over-the-counter medication and forced to continue. Jasleen and Durga later joined in monitoring her movements," he explained.
The systematic abuse and confinement paint a grim picture of the trafficking network's operations.
Legal Charges and Ongoing Investigation
An extensive First Information Report (FIR) has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including:
- Section 98 (selling a child for purposes of prostitution)
- Section 99 (buying a child for purposes of prostitution)
- Section 127(2) (wrongful confinement)
- Section 143(3) (trafficking)
- Section 144(1) (exploitation of trafficked person)
- Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt)
- Section 337 (forgery of record of court or of public register)
Additionally, charges have been filed under Section 3/4(2) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and Section 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
The victim has been admitted to the district hospital for medical care and psychological support, while the arrested accused have been sent to jail. SP Pareek confirmed that investigations are also underway against hotel operators who allegedly allowed entry without proper verification of identity documents.
This case underscores the urgent need for vigilance and stringent enforcement against human trafficking networks that prey on vulnerable minors.
