A group of transgenders in Allahabad recused a minor girl, who was allegedly sold off by her parents to a 50-years-old man for marriage against payment of Rs 1.5 lakh. The girl, who is a native of Nawada district, Bihar was later sent to her married cousin in Kaimur, where she filed a complained against her parents.
According to the sub-divisional police officer (SDPO), Ajay Prasad, after informing the SP and sub-divisional police officer of Nawada district. A zero FIR has been lodged against the victim’s parents and two other accomplices based on the girl’s statement, reports Hindustan Times.
Alleged trafficking
The 15-year-old, victim claims that, her parents sold her to a man in Jharkhand for marriage. She alleged that her parents and uncle had also lied to her, as they assured her that the buyer would only keep her and look after her further studies. The girl further said that, upon resisting, she was drugged and taken by force to Giridh where the man attempted to rape her.
“Besides my parents, my two uncles intoxicated me before selling me. When I regained consciousness, I put up a strong opposition and denied to go with the groom. But my parents and uncles cheated with me, saying the man had no intention to marry me”, quotes Hindustan Times as the girl saying.
Reportedly, the victim; a student of Class 9, managed to flee and return home, where she was beaten up by her parents. She was further told that she was no longer welcome anywhere but at her “husband’s” house only.
The rescue operation
According to the girl, the perpetrator (her husband) in question further planned to sell the victim to another man in Pune for Rs 6 lakh and while she was being taken to Pune on a train she instantly planned her escape.
Somehow at the Allahabad station, desperate for help, she managed to narrate her harrowing experience to a group of sympathetic transgenders, who turned out to be her saviour. Sensing foul play the transgenders helped her to rescue, following which they took her to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay station and from there to her married cousin’s house in the Bare village (kaimur district).
The twist
As soon as the the girl’s mother got to know about the developments, she reached the Bare village and tried to convince the girl to return to her “husband”. However, the girl refused to do so.
Further, the mother decided to accuse her relatives, including the girl’s brother in-law Babloo Pandey of having kidnapped the minor girl. According to the reports, Nawada police is investigating the matter, and various statements are being corroborated, fitting action under sections of the POSCO and Child Marriage acts are expected to be taken.
The Logical Indian Take
The state of Bihar has been notoriously synonymous with child trafficking, and the numbers paint a grim picture – according to Human Liberty Network- a social group involved in rescue and rehabilitation, around 2000 children disappear every year from the state. In 2015 alone, Bihar clocked the third highest number of such cases (332) in the country, reports The Asian Age.
The fight against this evil practice is gaining strength – 160 arrests and 560 rescues were reportedly made in 2017 by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel on the Indo-Nepal border.
The Logical Indian believes that the severity of the problem demands strict measures and efforts from the government along with Public awareness, which is a way to ensure the safety of children in the country.
