A 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl, rescued from a sex trafficking ring in Maharashtra’s Palghar district, has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by around 200 men over three months. Police are verifying her claims while investigating the case.
The girl was rescued on July 26 after a joint operation by the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation. The raid took place at a flat in Naigaon, Vasai, where the minor was being held captive.
According to her statement, the girl was first trafficked to Nadiad in Gujarat, where she was sexually exploited before being moved to Maharashtra. Harmony Foundation president Abraham Mathai said she had run away from home after failing a school exam and was lured into India illegally by a woman who forced her into prostitution.
Police suspect she may have been given hormonal injections to appear older. “There are instances where victims are kidnapped as infants, raised by traffickers, and later forced into the trade after being injected with hormones,” said human rights activist Madhu Shankar.
Ten people, including two women, have been arrested so far. The main accused, Mohammad Khalid Abdul Bapari (33), allegedly managed the trafficking network, sending victims to cities like Navi Mumbai, Pune, Gujarat, and Karnataka. Agents Juber Harun Sheikh (38) and Shamim Gafar Sardar (39) were also arrested.
The girl was reportedly subjected to extreme cruelty, including being branded with a hot spoon and given sedatives to control her. Police teams are now working across multiple states to track down others involved in the racket.
A case has been registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, POCSO Act, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and other relevant laws. MBVV Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik assured that authorities are committed to dismantling the entire network and protecting vulnerable minors.
Activists are demanding that all 200 alleged abusers be identified and arrested. “This is a horrific crime, and justice must be served,” said Mathai.
(The survivor’s identity has been protected as per legal protocols.)
