Number of girls rescued from flesh trade doubles

The Mumbai Crime Branch rescued more than twice the number of minor girls this year who were allegedly forced into flesh trade than it did last year. Around 23 minor girls have been rescued till date while last year nine minor girls were rescued. Two rescued girls are aged 13 and 14 years while rest are aged between 16 and 17 years. Their medical tests have proved they are minors.

Deputy commissioner of police, enforcement, Pravinkumar Patil said, “Our focus from the beginning of the year was to rescue minor girls from sex trade. We are applying the stringent human trafficking for sexual exploitation charge against the accused. I had given instructions to my team to tap all their sources to find out if minor girls are being pushed into flesh trade. The results have finally shown. Next year too our focus will be the same.”

Assistant commissioner of police, SS Branch, Rajdhoot Rupawate said, “There are a few methods used by pimps to push minors into flesh trade. The victim knows some of the pimps while others are their lovers who bring them to the city under the false pretext of love, marriage and jobs. Many a time they have no idea what they are getting into. In bars their female friends lure the victims. They lure them with a lot of money, saying their parents will get a better livelihood in their villages and it will also cover education fees for their siblings.”

The 23 minors have been rescued from areas like Chembur and Govandi in eastern suburbs, DB marg in south Mumbai, Nagpada and VB nagar in Central Mumbai, Powai, Khar and MIDC in western suburbs, Malwani in Malad and Charkop in Kandivali both areas being in northern suburbs.

In 2013, a total of 13 cases were registered wherein 13 women and 23 minors were rescued from prostitution. Around 21 pimps who brought them from other parts of the country have been arrested under relevant sections of human trafficking of the IPC, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. Last year in seven cases, 20 women and nine minors were rescued and 14 pimps arrested.