Ludhiana: Eight individuals from a neighboring state are being investigated in connection with a cross-border child trafficking and forced marriage case involving a girl who was allegedly sold by her father when she was a toddler.
Investigation Initiated After Escape
The investigation began after the 17-year-old survivor escaped captivity, gave birth to a child, and filed a complaint detailing over a decade of systemic abuse across state lines.
Allegations of Sale and Resale
Police officials stated that the survivor’s late father allegedly sold her to a family in the neighboring state when she was 2 years old, following a parental separation driven by his severe alcoholism. When she turned 16, that family allegedly resold her to a second household, where she was forcibly married to the family’s son in November 2024.
Abuse in Ludhiana
The survivor was subsequently moved to a residential area in Ludhiana, where she faced continuous sexual assault and wrongful confinement. Members of the family allegedly threatened her into silence, claiming the marriage granted her husband total authority over her.
Escape and Threats
The teenager fled the house in May 2025 to reunite with her biological mother and later gave birth to a baby. The suspects tracked the survivor to her mother’s house and issued continuous threats to coerce her return. After a formal complaint in late May 2026, authorities in the neighboring state initially registered a “Zero FIR” — a jurisdictional placeholder allowing immediate police action — before transferring the case to Ludhiana for formal registration.
Charges Filed
The suspects, including four women, face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for rape of a minor under 16, wrongful confinement, and criminal intimidation. They are additionally charged under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act.
The investigating officer confirmed that local police are tracing the suspects and arrests are expected shortly.
