A teenage girl’s trust was sold for just ₹7,000. What began as a love story over missed calls and phone conversations ended in betrayal when a 17-year-old was sold to a brothel in East Midnapore's Mahishadal by the very man she thought was her lover.
The incident dates back to 2017. On Monday, after years of trial, the POCSO court in Tamluk convicted three people in connection with the crime, including the girl’s paramour. The court will announce their sentence on Tuesday.
According to police, the minor, a resident under Panshkura police station, developed a relationship with a youth who introduced himself as ‘Saddam’. Believing in his promises, she left home one day to start a life with him.
But instead of sheltering her, he handed her over to a brothel in Mahishadal for ₹7,000. For the next two weeks, the girl was allegedly tortured and forced into prostitution.
Her ordeal ended when she confided in a customer, who helped contact her family. Acting on a complaint, a police team led by then Sub Inspector Manas Mukhopadhyay raided Rayer the redlight area and rescued the girl after 15 days. She underwent medical examination and her statement was later recorded in court.
Brothel operator Saera Banu and her husband Titu Roy were arrested on the spot. The “lover” went missing but was caught about 18 months later. He was identified as Shahjahan Chitrakar, a resident of the same district's Chandipur, who had posed as Saddam. The survivor identified all three accused in the Test Identification Parade.
Public prosecutor Kinkar Gayen said, “The judge of the POCSO court in Tamluk has convicted all three accused. Multiple charges, including trafficking, rape and forcing a minor into prostitution, have been proved. The quantum of punishment will be declared on Tuesday.”
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