A 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl has been rescued after enduring months of horrific sexual exploitation in India, where she was allegedly raped by over 200 men.
The minor fled her home in Bangladesh after failing a school exam, fearing punishment from her strict parents, only to fall victim to a ruthless human trafficking ring.
According to authorities, the girl was smuggled across the border by a woman she knew, who later sold her into the sex trade in Nadiad, Gujarat.
There, she was subjected to relentless abuse until her rescue on July 26 in a joint operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit, Exodus Road India Foundation, and Harmony Foundation.
Ten suspects have been arrested in connection with the case, but activists warn that this represents only a fraction of a much larger, deeply entrenched trafficking network.
This case highlights the dangers faced by vulnerable children, particularly those from oppressive home environments.
Abraham Mathai, founder of Harmony Foundation, stated that behind every such rescue is a child who wasn’t heard — failed first by those meant to protect her, then by a society that reacts only when it’s too late.
“Strict parenting can push children into the hands of traffickers who exploit their fear and desperation,” Mathai said.
The tragedy mirrors another recent incident in which a 15-year-old Bangladeshi girl was lured to Hyderabad under the guise of a sightseeing trip, only to be forced into prostitution. She later escaped and alerted authorities, leading to further rescues.
Data from Child Rights and You (CRY) reveals a 96 per cent surge in reported child sexual violence cases in India between 2016 and 2022, with nearly 40,000 cases recorded in 2022 alone.
Activists note that traffickers frequently target minors from unstable backgrounds, offering false promises of love, freedom, or employment.
Madhu Shankar, an anti-trafficking campaigner, explained, “Many exploited girls are stolen as infants, brought to cities, and forcibly injected with hormones to accelerate puberty. They are then controlled by handlers who force them into begging or prostitution.”
While Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik has pledged to dismantle trafficking networks, advocates stress the need for preventative measures, urging parents and communities to foster open, supportive environments to reduce children’s vulnerability.
As the young survivor begins her long journey toward recovery, her ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change both in law enforcement and in how society protects its most vulnerable.
