On February 19, we learned that Mazina, a Bangladeshi victim, was being sexually exploited after she was trafficked to India. We received no update about her whereabouts until April 20, when we learned that Mazina was trafficked to North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. Our social workers, Shelly and Shreyosi, reported this information to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), but because they did not have an appointment, they were directed to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU).
The AHTU verified the details about Mazina but was unable to trace her. After we shared this information with the SSP, they asked us to contact the Superintendent of Police (SP). The SP verified that there was a Bangladeshi victim in the district but determined that it was too late in the evening to initiate a raid. They said they would execute a rescue operation the next day, but we urged the SP not to delay the raid as there was a high possibility that Mazina may disappear from the area. The SP directed us to the Officer in Charge (OC) of Rajbari Outpost.
After explaining the situation to the OC, he agreed to initiate a raid that evening and told us to wait at a specific location. We waited for 30 minutes, then Shreyosi called the OC, who told our team to meet him at Rajbari Outpost.
At 10:55 p.m., the police officer, Mazina, and Mazina’s sister-in-law arrived at Rajbari Outpost. Mazina, her sister-in-law, the police, and our team proceeded to the police station.
At the police station, Mazina shared that she was trafficked to Bangladesh and was moved to different locations in India, where she was continually sexually exploited. Mazina is 8 months pregnant and was admitted to the hospital for the night. The next day, she was placed in a shelter home in North 24 Parganas, where she remains safe.
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