Man gets RI for forcing minor into flesh-trade

Man gets RI for forcing minor into flesh-trade
22 Dec 2008, 0459 hrs IST, TNN
PUNE: Additional sessions judge T M Jahagirdhar on Saturday sentenced brothel owner Sonal Roy (34) of Nepal to five-year rigorous imprisonment for inducing a minor girl into prostitution. In March last year, activists Somling Kamble and James Varghese of US-based organisation Freedom Firm received a tip-off that a minor girl has been induced into prostitution in the red-light district in Budhwar Peth. The activists, with the help of sub-inspector Gajanan Pawar of the Faraskhana police, rescued the 16-year-old victim on March 16, 2007. Roy, who had "bought" the girl from an unidentified woman, was arrested under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. Additional public prosecutor C G Kulkarni examined six witnesses to establish Roy's guilt. Of the six, the panch witness had turned hostile. Rohit Takawane, the lawyer appointed by Freedom Firm to assist Kulkarni, said after the trial that the organisation had flown the victim to Pune from West Bengal to depose in court. Freedom Firm works to prevent child abuse, Takawane said.

Human trafficking network busted in Khammam

THE HINDU
Regional
Human trafficking network busted in Khammam
Wednesday, December 24, 2008 : 1830 Hrs

Hyderabad (PTI): Andhra Pradesh police have busted a human trafficking network and rescued three girls while arresting seven persons including six women involved in the racket in Khammam district.
The rescued girls including a second year Intermediate student were sent to rehabilitation centre for counseling and rehabilitation, Khammam district Superintendent of Police M M Bhagwat told PTI on Wednesday.
The human trafficking network was exposed when a victim girl recently lodged a complaint stating that one Dharavath Nagulu trapped her and forced her to indulge in prostitution at Khammam town, Vijayawada city and other places, Bhagwat said.
On the basis of the complaint police teams conducted raids at various places and arrested Nagulu, kingpin of the racket and six women who were involved in selling girls to brothel houses at Khammam, Kodada, Vijayawada and Mumbai, he said.
Nagulu reported to have confessed that he was involved in human trafficking for the last five years, the SP said. Three other accused in the racket are absconding and efforts are on to nab them, Bhagwat said.

Inter student among minors rescued

Date:25/12/2008



Police launch major drive against human trafficking
Police recommend immediate relief, compensation to the girls
Khammam accounts for a number of forced prostitution cases, says SP







Trainee sub-divisional police officer Janaki Sharmila listening to one of the rescued girls.





KHAMMAM: Three minor girls, including a junior college student, were freed from forced prostitution as part of a major operation launched in the district against human trafficking. The initiative spearheaded by Superintendent of Police Mahesh M. Bhagwat resulted in the arrest of some 11 persons accused in the prostitution racket.
One of the minor girls sold to a brothel in the red light area of Mumbai managed to escape and return to Khammam while two others were found to be pregnant. The police department has recommended an immediate relief of Rs 10,000 to each of the girls besides a compensation ranging up to Rs 1 lakh. They would be sent to the rehabilitation centre for counselling.
He said Daravath Nagulu, a resident of Balapet Tanda who had been in the flesh trade for over five years sold girls from the district in Mumbai. He enjoyed the support of affluent clientele in places such as Vijayawada and Kodad. Boda Ramesh, another person accused in the case, was also arrested along with nine others as part of the drive.
The Police department is working on information that similar gangs were operating in other parts of the district including Yellandu area trying to lure gullible women into flesh trade.
He said Khammam accounted for a substantial number of girls forced into prostitution. Out of 45 women set free by the State police from the red light area of Mumbai in 2007, some 15 women were from the district.
The SP said the breakthrough in the drive owed itself to the efforts of the Khammam sub divisional police officer, Rameshaiah, the trainee DSP, Janaki Sharmila and CI, Khammam rural, Syed Sarwar. The constables and head constable who took part in the operation would be suitably rewarded.

Police to play bigger role in AIDS awareness

Police to play bigger role in AIDS awareness
Staff Reporter
Audio CD of ‘kala jathas’ on the dreaded disease released

Mee Nestam to be launched in West Godavari district

KHAMMAM: Superintendent of Police Mahesh M. Bhagwat said here on Monday that the police would opt for playing a bigger role in raising the awareness levels in the general public on aids. Releasing an audio CD of the police ‘kala jatha’ teams on the dreaded disease at a programme organized a part of the World Ids Day, he said all the police stations in the district were instructed to organise awareness meetings on the occasion.
It is not end of the road for the positive people, he said adding that such people would be able to live a longer and happy life in a right environment. The spread of AIDS owed much to the sexual transmission. “ If you are loyal to your partner you are safe.” The police personnel, who are expected to be battle ready all the time with total physical fitness in the present circumstances, should not fall prey to the disease. The problem was felt more in cities like Mumbai where in a sizeable segment of people had been working away from their families. The sex workers in the red light areas were often forced reportedly for unprotected sex, but it would be fatal. He wanted the HIV tests conducted before marriage as they would help avoid a greater risk in life. But it should not be forced only upon women. It should be made mandatory even for men. Many advanced medicines were being made available in the market to enhance the life of the positive people. The HIV positive people should not try to conceal their problem. Their families should be kept informed. He said the youth, who could help create more awareness among the tribal communities by communicating in their own language, would be inducted in the ‘kala jathas’.
He announced a cash award of Rs 5,000 for the cultural teams which came out with the CD.