nline forums are fuelling the soaring illicit business in the State. The trade, by and large, has switched over from the streets to the Internet, thereby increasing the reach of pimps to customers and creating anonymity for the pimps and clients.
Not only the websites but social platforms are also misused for advertising sexual services, recruiting girls, soliciting customers and even receiving payments.
A police officer, who has been a part of several raids, disclosed that women coerced into the trade or willingly engage due to personal circumstances, are even drugged and assaulted by the traffickers. “Arrests are made but zeroing in on the main criminal is a tedious task. The trade is become faceless and only local traffickers get caught in the raid,” the officer stated, while wishing anonymity due to High Court directions banning officers below the rank of SPs to interact with the media.
NGO Anyay Rahit Zindagi (ARZ) conceded that the organised network is spread across the country. “Many women trafficked to Goa are sent by the traffickers from their States by giving the reference of the local traffickers whom they have neither met nor seen. If a girl is rescued, the traffickers are quick enough to switch their phones off and change their SIM cards. It has become increasingly difficult to arrest the persons involved in the exploitation of girls,” ARZ Director Arun Pandey added.
“Online enabled commercial sexual activity has made the traffickers faceless and increased the reach of the pimps to the clients. It is providing anonymity to the clients who are soliciting girls and women for commercial sexual activity. As a result, it is a bit challenging for the law enforcement agencies and anti-trafficking organisations to act against those involved in online commercial sexual exploitation. Unfortunately, the present legislation’s does not properly address the different offences committed for online enabled commercial sexual exploitation,” he added.
A first-hand account of how victims are lured into the business by faceless traffickers
Rajani, a 21-year-old girl, migrated from western Uttar Pradesh to Delhi where she worked as a salesgirl. To earn extra, which was a desperate need for her as she had to feed her lower middle class family, she occasionally took up random jobs at events like marriage, mega sales, exhibitions, parties, etc wherein she earned around Rs 2,000 to 3,000 per day.
One day during such event, she met a woman by name Sudha, who lured the youngster with the promise of securing a lucrative salary of around Rs 8,000 to Rs 10,000 per day, in Goa with no much explanation about what it entails. Rajani immediately gave her nod and sought the same job, for her close friend Gita. Sudha said that she needs to check with “Ravi Sir,” and shared his number with Rajani too.
In a telephonic conversation with Ravi, Rajani discussed about her intentions to take Gita along with her. Ravi asked her to WhatsApp photos of both the girls and assured them both of paying them a salary of Rs 50,000 for 10 days. It came as a pleasant surprise to both the vulnerable girls as the unknown face – Ravi – also booked one way flight tickets from Delhi to Goa and free accommodation.
This came with a warning that the girls should not give anyone a chance to complain about their “work.” This remark did not give any hint or alert the young girls that they were about to fall into a trap. They received the flight tickets on their mobile phones along with contact number of a new character – Chauhan.
Rajani and Gita were very excited, before this, they had never been to Goa and neither had they travelled by flight. Rajani and Gita informed their family members that they were going to Goa for holiday with friends.
The girls lied to their respective families about visiting Goa on a short holiday trip and flew down to their dream holiday destination carrying Rs 3,000 with them. Things went as planned. They hired a taxi and reached a three-bedroom flat after nearly one and half hour. Chauhan was there to receive them. The girls were provided dinner and were asked to rest.
The flat was shared by the taxi’s driver Ramesh, Chauhan and the cook Ashok. This sight also surprisingly, did not give the girls any clue about what they will face from the next day.
The morning came as a shocker when Chauhan asked Rajani and Gita to attend to a client in a hotel. They refused but with no money to refund the air fares, they agreed. Chauhan also threatened to upload their photos on escort websites, which would leave them and their families in shame. After five days, the police raided a premise, rescued the two girls and arrested Chauhan and Ramesh.
The ordeal, shared by one of the victims, is a latest example of how faceless figures are running the show. The girls shared that the customers would call on the number advertised on the website, which belonged to Ravi. He would verify and check the identity of the customer to avoid hassles, and then ask Chauhan to contact the client and deliver the girl. Chauhan along with the driver would bring the girls to the hotel, escort them to the room collect the money from the customers and then wait in the vehicle till the girls finish the job.
