Christian Anti-Trafficking Organization Rescues 13 Girls From being Forced into Prostitution from Mumbai, India

Jacob Philip/Assistant : Jan 19, 2012
Indian Rescue Mission

"I thought there would be no way I could come out of the brothel and finally one good day an Investigator of Indian Rescue Mission came to me and he offered help and today I am glad that I am rescued from this horrible place."

(Mumbai, India)?Acting on a tip off by Indian Rescue Mission (IRM) regarding a trafficking racket, Mumbai Crime Branch raided a brothel and rescued thirteen girls from Faras Road, Mumbai on Thursday January 12, 2012.

Two days prior to the raid, the organization had received information of two minor girls trafficked and forced into prostitution in a brothel and IRM Investigators verified the information. Then the information was given to the Police and acting on the information the Police raided the brothel.

According to the organization's sources it was known that the victims were allegedly confined in the brothel and the girls had been sold, trafficked and forced into prostitution.

The rescued girls belong to different parts of the country. Twelve girls were trafficked from West Bengal state and another from Bihar.

"A team, under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police, Crime Branch, Mumbai City Mr. Vasant Dobhale along with our organization raided the area and rescued the girls. A case of illegal trafficking has been registered at the Nagpada police station and Charges under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) was applied," said James Varghese, Founder of Indian Rescue Mission.

Five people have been arrested in connection with this case and booked under stringent sections of anti-trafficking laws. Indian Rescue Mission legal team is following up to make sure the guilty are brought to book.

During the Investigations it was found that the brothel owner owned three flats and one new one booked. He even owned many cars. All with the money that was earned by these innocent girls. The Police seized cash worth Rs. 400,000 ($8,000) during the raid.

The rescued girls are now in a shelter home and our Intervention follow up team is supporting them.

Mr. Varghese said "There is a possibility that at least 5 of the 13 girls are minors. The court has asked to conduct the medical tests of the girls for age verification. The tests will reveal if they are minors or not."

Speaking to BCN, Anitha* a rescued girl shared her story on how she was brought to the city for sex trade: "I have been brought to the city with a false promise of job. I was told by the trafficker that I will be paid well in the city and I have to do household chores. I agreed to it because of my family situation. I lost my father when I was a child and my mother became sick and bed ridden. I have 2 sisters and a brother younger to me. Being the elder one of my family, the responsibility of taking care of the family came on my shoulders. (*Name of the girl changed for security reasons.)

"So as these traffickers offered me a job in the city, I made a decision to work and pay my family. With one thought in mind, at least I can pay my brother and sister for their education so that they can make their future secure. But I got lost and ended up in a wrong place. I landed in the red light streets of Mumbai. At first I did not knew where I was but one day in the brothel 4-5 goons came inside my room and forcibly raped me. I fell unconscious... As I [regained my senses] they told me that my work will be attending customers for sex and told me that I should work for them till my debt is repaid. They told me that the person who brought me to Mumbai sold [me] for 100,000 rupees ($2,000). They told me 'never think of running away from this place till you repay the money back.'

"Finding no one to help me, I thought there would be no way I could come out of the brothel, [but] finally one good day an Investigator of Indian Rescue Mission came to me and he offered help and today I am glad that I am rescued from this horrible place. Thanks to Indian Rescue Mission."

If you wish to partner with Indian Rescue Mission then mail them at: indianrescuemission@gmail.com

Watch the videos of the rescue operation on their website www.indianrescuemission.org.