A 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl has been rescued from a human trafficking ring in Naigaon, near Vasai in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, after allegedly enduring sexual exploitation by more than 200 men over three months.
The rescue operation took place on 26 July during a joint effort by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police, working alongside NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation. Ten people have been arrested in connection with the case, including two women aged 32 and 33 who allegedly facilitated the trafficking.
The minor, who is now receiving counselling and care at a juvenile detention centre in Ulhasnagar, Thane, has provided harrowing details of her ordeal to authorities. According to her statement, she was first trafficked to Nadiad in Gujarat, where the systematic abuse began, before being moved to Maharashtra.
Failed Exam Led to Exploitation
Abraham Mathai, founder-president of Harmony Foundation, revealed that the girl had run away from home after failing a school subject, fearing her parents’ reaction. “That woman brought her to India secretly and pushed her into prostitution,” Mathai stated, referring to a female acquaintance who allegedly lured the child.
The 12-year-old girl in the juvenile home said that she was first taken to Nadiad in Gujarat and was sexually abused by more than 200 men over a period of three months there,” Mathai added. This girl has not even seen her adolescence, but her childhood has been snatched away by such brutes.
The trafficking network allegedly forged documents to facilitate the girl’s illegal entry into India and subsequent movement between locations including Navi Mumbai, Pune, and various cities in Gujarat.
Police Launch Major Investigation
MBVV Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik assured that authorities are “using all its strength to expose the whole network and ensure a safe environment for vulnerable teenagers.” Teams have been dispatched to various locations across the country to apprehend others involved in the trafficking ring.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Madan Ballal described the case as “both serious and sensitive” due to the minor’s involvement. Among those arrested is Mohammad Khalid Abdul Bapari (33), identified as the main accused responsible for trafficking victims to various cities, along with agents Juber Harun Sheikh (38) and Shamim Gafar Sardar (39).
Police officials revealed disturbing details about the methods used by traffickers, including allegations that the girl may have been administered hormonal injections to induce premature puberty. The accused also allegedly gave sedatives to the minor and used physical coercion to force her into prostitution.
Broader Pattern of Exploitation
Social activist Madhu Shankar highlighted that this case reflects a wider pattern of child exploitation in the region. I have often seen minor girls begging in the Vashi and Belapur areas, often stolen from villages as children, brought to cities and then exploited,” Shankar explained.
“They are managed by one or two older women who also push them into prostitution. They are also given hormonal injections so that they mature quickly,” the activist added, pointing to systematic methods used by trafficking networks.
Legal Action and Support
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and other relevant laws. The investigation has revealed the involvement of at least 12 Bangladeshi agents in the trafficking ring.
The girl’s family in Bangladesh has been contacted, and authorities are working through legal channels to ensure her safe return. Meanwhile, she continues to receive psychological support and medical care at the Child Welfare Committee facility.
Mathai has called for the arrest of all men named by the child, stating: “This is a horrific crime, and justice must be served.” He emphasised that this case represents a broader failure of child protection systems, noting that “behind every such rescue is a child who wasn’t heard; a child failed first by those meant to protect her, and then by a society that only reacts when it’s too late.
Call for Stronger Action
The case has renewed calls for stronger measures against human trafficking networks operating across state borders. Authorities have acknowledged that similar cases are being reported regularly, indicating the scale of the problem.
Police have assured that the investigation remains ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying and apprehending all individuals involved in the network, including those accused of exploitation. The MBVV police have emphasised their commitment to dismantling the entire trafficking operation and preventing similar crimes against vulnerable children.
Anyone with information about human trafficking or child exploitation is urged to contact local authorities or child protection services immediately.
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