As fifteen-year-old Shifa* waited for the bus to take her to visit her grandmother, she was plunged into a nightmare when she befriended two women and a man who approached her. They initiated conversations and even sat with her on the bus, claiming to be headed in the same direction. However, during the bus ride they drugged Shifa, and when she regained consciousness she found that people were bidding to buy her.
She was handed over to a woman who held Shifa captive for a few days and then released her to a brothel, where she was forced to engage in sexual relations under the threat of physical harm. Throughout the day 10 to 15 customers were sent to her, and the money given by the customers was kept by the brothel owner. Every week she was administered certain injections to weaken her resolve, and this agony continued for a month.
A JVI Justice Hub investigated her case and planned a rescue operation. On December 27, 2023, the Justice Hub conducted the rescue with the help of police and other parties, arresting 13 perpetrators. Shifa and another minor girl were rescued from the brothel and are recovering at a children’s home in Katihar.
The girls have provided their written statements, which will be used as evidence in the trial against the perpetrators. The Justice Hub team will work with the Child Welfare Committee to ensure that the girls receive counseling and the support they need as they begin their restoration journey.
*Name changed to protect identity, photo for representation.
