A Minor Girl Nepali Origin from Manipur Rescued from Being Sold in Marriage
- North East Support Centre & Helpline -

New Delhi February 10, 2011

A 14 years old Nepali origin from Manipur rescued by Gurgaon Police from being sold off in marriage. Victim was seduced, sexually abused, raped. The accused a man named Bikku Ranpal 24 trafficked minor girl from her native village in Manipur.

Sources reaching to North East Support Centre & Helpline said, Parents of the minor girl lodged a case of human trafficking at Awang Sekmai Police Station, Imphal West District, Manipur and a FIR No. 08/2011 registered under section 366A/368/370/372/420/34 of IPC.

Shakti Vahini, a NGO has given shelter to victim and her parents are scheduled to reach national capital within a day or two. Nishi Kant of Shakti Vahini told North East Support Centre & Helpline, Accused was caught from a basement of a sector 56 apartment in Gurgaon while he attempted to sell off her in marriage. The accused denied the charges that minor girl was eloped with intention to marry her.

Victim has confessed that accused man has abused her sexually and raped repeatedly. She was rescued while accused Mr. Bikku Ranpal was selling off in marriage to another man for Rs 50,000. Victim will go through medical test, says Nishi Kant.

North East Support Centre & Helpline has spoken to OC Mr. AK Shantikumar, incharge of Awang Sekmai Police station and confirm the case. Manipur Government is planning to send a team of police to Gurgaon to receive girl.

Seducing, abusing sexually and raping a minor girl of 14 years old, if it is not a form of human trafficking then what it is, says, Madhu Chandra, Spokesperson of North East Support Centre & Helpline while speaking to Manipur Police.

The issue of human trafficking is huge challenge for North East India communities. Due to socio-political unrest in the region, backwardness of economic, lack of educational opportunities, young women and men are easily targeted with false promise of giving jobs. “When North East boys and girls migrate to Delhi and NCR, they are racially profiled and women became vulnerable to sexual violence, says Madhu Chandra.

We have taken up the matter of human trafficking challenges in North East India with civil societies, religious bodies and appeal to Nagaland and Manipur Government to adopt law, policy and plan of action, says Madhu Chandra.

Series of awareness seminars were held at Dimapur, Kakching and Imphal on January 28, 30 and 31. A network formed with various sections of societies to tackle the challenges of human trafficking.

North East Support Centre & Helpline has appealed to Manipur Police and Nagaland Government to setup anti-human trafficking cell posted at exit points. Dimapur is exit point for the state of Manipur, Nagaland and Assam and Awang Sekmai for Manipur.

North East Support Centre & Helpline (www.nehelpline.net) is a joint initiative of various human rights activists, social workers, students, journalists and lawyers seeking to prevent harassment and abuses meted out to North East People and tribal communities of other states.

Released by

Angam Haokip