Human traffickers arrested, girl rescued

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, Siliguri, 3 Aug 2014: The Bidhan Nagar police Saturday night busted a human trafficking racket the modus operandi of which was to lure young girls into relationships and make false promises of marrying them before selling them for paltry amounts.

Police informed two youths named Abbas and Aslam, both residents of Islampur, were arrested last night on the basis of an FIR lodged by the family members of a 20-year-old girl who had been allegedly sold for just Rs15,000 in Baraily, a town in Uttar Pradesh.

According to police sources, Mona (name changed), a resident of Magura under the Bidhannagar police station, had fallen in love with a youth named Rihan of the same area. The relation turned deeper following which Rihan proposed he would like to marry Mona. The youth reportedly asked Mona to flee from her home and reach Islampur railway station on August 2. The unsuspecting girl agreed and reached the station with some valuables and some cash. However, when she arrives at the designated spot, Mona finds two other youths, Abbas and Aslam, along with Rihan.

Rihan reportedly told Mona that as it was already late and the marriage registration could be conducted only on the following day, he asked her to stay with the two friends until he arranged some money and come back to pick her up. They hire a private room for Rs800 where Mona was allegedly raped by Aslam.

The victim said she tried to contact Rihan over phone, but it was switched off and he failed to return. She was repeatedly raped by Aslam till the morning of July 31. The same day, Aslam and Abbas took Mona to Baraily by train and sold her for Rs15,000.

Fortunately for Mona, a customer in a room staying next door to where she was kept in Baraily heard her cries and decided to help her. He took the number of the girl’s family and contacted her parents.

The Bidhan Nagar police said Abbas and Aslam were today produced at Siliguri court where their bail plea was rejected and the duo has been sent to police remand, while a search for the kingpin, Rihan, is ongoing.