In a small town in Uttar Pradesh, 17-year-old Priyanka* lived with her father, brothers, and a stepmother who would betray her in unimaginable ways.
Priyanka’s boyfriend convinced her to take a trip to Kolkata without telling her parents. The next day, they were caught by the railway police and taken to the Child Welfare Committee, who placed Priyanka in a shelter home. Unbeknownst to Priyanka, her stepmother Soniya* had a sinister plan to sell Priyanka into the sex trade, so she convinced Priyanka’s father to remove Priyanka from the shelter.
For months, Priyanka was trapped in a living nightmare, as Soniya forced her to engage in prostitution and other unspeakable acts at different hotels. One day, a team of Justice Hub investigators received a tip about the sex trade occurring at local hotel. They tracked down Priyanka and Soniya, and within five days they had gathered enough evidence to embark on a daring rescue mission.
On July 24th, 2024, Priyanka was finally rescued from the clutches of her trafficker stepmother. Soniya was arrested, and Priyanka was taken to a safe shelter home. For the first time in months, Priyanka felt hope for a future where she was restored to the dignity she deserved
*Name changed to protect identity
