Over 40 Human Trafficking Victims Rescued, Dozens Arrested in India, Philippines Operations

Authorities in Maharashtra's Palghar district have dismantled a human trafficking and flesh trade racket, rescuing a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl who was sexually abused by over 200 men across several months. The girl, who ran away from home fearing strict parental discipline, was trafficked illegally into India, sedated, branded, and forced into prostitution in multiple locations including Gujarat and Mumbai. Ten people involved in the racket, including those who facilitated the girl's illegal entry and exploitation, have been arrested, with ongoing investigations aiming to apprehend others across the country. NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation collaborated with police units in the rescue operation, highlighting the broader issue of trafficking and exploitation of minors in the region. Officials and activists emphasize that such cases are not isolated, pointing to systemic failures in protection and the urgent need for societal awareness and stronger safeguards for vulnerable children. Police have registered multiple charges including under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, while continuing efforts to expose and dismantle the trafficking network.