On April 16, we received a lead about a minor girl who was being sexually exploited in a dera (socio-religious camp) in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. Our team tried to make an appointment with the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Ratlam, but he was on leave. We were asked to come the next day.
We met the police on April 17, and asked them to initiate a raid. They said that because the 17th was a state holiday, they could not carry out a rescue, so the raid was once again delayed.
On April 19, we were able to schedule an appointment with the SP in Ratlam. We shared details about the minor girl and asked him to initiate a raid. He connected us with another police officer from a local police station, and this police officer pulled a team together to initiate a raid.
On our way to the dera, we discussed a rescue plan, and after arriving, the police and our team proceeded to the brothel.
At 5:07 p.m., the police and our team raided the brothel and rescued two children. The dera was very crowded due to a wedding, and a mob quickly surrounded us. Despite the chaos and angry mob, the police successfully took the children to safety, and arrested a female pimp.
After the police completed their initial reports, the victims, the accused, and our team proceeded to the police station.
The police treated 10-year-old Anamika and 13-year-old Rashmi with care. They filed a First Information Report against the pimp, whom we discovered was the aunt of one of the survivors.
The two young survivors gave their statements, and then we accompanied them to their medical tests. After we briefed the Child Welfare Committee about the rescue, they placed the survivors in a shelter home in Ratlam where they remain safe.
Exhausted Anamika falls asleep on social worker
while waiting at the police station
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