Patna: A sophisticated human trafficking gang operating in Bihar, targeting lonely and minor girls at railway stations, has been exposed by Patna Police. The gang would entice these girls with promises of a better life and marriage, only to sell them into forced unions in states like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh.
The racket came to light when a young woman from Ara, who had been sold to a businessman in Rajasthan for Rs 1.50 lakh, managed to escape her captors. The businessman had reportedly begun torturing her and attempting to force her into illegal activities. After fleeing and reaching Danapur police station, her testimony led police to raid the Ashirwad Banquet Hall in Dinara, Rohtas, a key location for the gang’s operations.
Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, including a woman from Bhojpur, two youths from Madhya Pradesh who acted as brokers, and the owner of the banquet hall, Ajay Kumar Gupta. Patna Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kartikeya K Sharma revealed today that the gang has victimized at least ten girls in the past six months, with their ‘price’ determined by their age.
The modus operandi involved a woman from the gang approaching single or minor girls at railway stations and luring them with false dreams. These girls would then be taken to the woman’s home in Bhojpur, prepared for marriage, and subsequently introduced to the ‘groom’. After a sham marriage ceremony, the girls were transported to other states and sold.
Police are actively searching for the remaining nine victims and are working to record their statements. While five arrests have been made, the alleged mastermind of the gang, who hails from Dinara in Rohtas, remains at large. Investigations are ongoing, with police reviewing video footage to gather further evidence.
