PANJIM: One of four major source destinations, Delhi ~ for peddling trafficked girls from different States into Goa ~ has also turned out to be a transit for trafficking foreign nationals for commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). A statistical analysis report on the trafficking of vulnerable girls for prostitution reveals that an organised network between Delhi and Goa for trafficking of girls and women for the illicit trade has been flourishing.

While vulnerable girls from Delhi are lured to Goa in the name of working in jobs related to catering, casinos, and events and once in Goa, they are commercially sexually exploited; the foreign nationals’ dancing skills are tested in the pubs and five-star hotels in Delhi and thereafter sent to Goa.

“In a large number of cases, men known to these girls or women are involved in luring them for commercial sexual activities. Many of these rescued victims were their partners who were unemployed and knowingly surviving on the earnings of the women from this activity. Delhi is a transit for trafficking of foreign nationals mainly from Russia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, etc. These girls under pretext of good jobs in Goa are thereafter sent to the coastal State where they are blackmailed to continue to this profession,” Arun Pandey, Director of NGO ARZ that has prepared the report stated.

Vulnerable girls also trafficked from Central Asia are first trafficked and commercially exploited in Delhi and then sent onwards to Goa, whereas, girls from Bangladesh are first trafficked to Maharashtra and then to Goa. 

“The girls and women from India or foreign countries are inducted in commercial sexual activity (CSA) outside Goa and when the victim has accepted CSA as “no other choice”, or is under the “control of the trafficker”, she is then trafficked to Goa. Delhi has developed as one of the major source areas for girls and women for CSE in the last 5 years. Girls are trafficked from different districts of Delhi,” he reiterated.

He further added that West Bengal, Maharashtra and Bangladesh have also developed as source States for trafficking girls into Goa.  

A majority of the women trafficked from Delhi, include those who were working as waitresses at weddings and big parties and are paid from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 depending on their looks. Pandey said that it is during these catering events that the agents lure the girls saying that they would be paid more in Goa. 

“Some of the rescued girls included those who were into “dancing”. In Delhi, these girls used to dance during marriages, product launch events, birthday parties, exhibitions, etc. They are not professional dancers. The girls are paid per day Rs 2,000 to 6,000 depending on their looks, dancing skills and connection with the coordinator. The agents target these girls during the programme and lure them with the promise of dance opportunities in hotels, clubs, casinos in Goa with higher payments,” he added.

The NGO, based on different case studies on rescue operations, claimed that the modus operandi is also used to lure foreign girls wherein their fake Aadhaar card, PAN card, voter ID card, Nikah Nama and driving licence are prepared by the traffickers. Unfortunately, the traffickers in Delhi are never caught in the police net.

In the case of Maharashtra, which has turned out to be a source and transit State, the girls and women trafficked from West Bengal and Bangladesh to Goa, are first brought to Maharashtra, exploited sexually and thereafter pushed into the illegal profession in Goa. These girls are usually trafficked into Goa on short contracts. Similarly, girls from Uzbekistan are first trafficked to Delhi, then to Mumbai and later to Goa. Girls and women trafficked from Bangladesh, are usually from 11 locations with most of them trafficked from Jessore, Narail, Bagerhat and Satkhira. Girls from this neighbouring State, illegally trespass in India based on strict orders from the agents, who are allegedly hand in glove with some of the authorities at the border.