Masum got information of trafficking of a minor girl from religious minority community (name withheld) residing at residing at 8 no. Titkumar, Police Station - Basanti, District - South 24 Paraganas, West Bengal. The victim girl alleged that on 12/09/2009 she was intoxicated and was taken to Delhi. She told our volunteer that she was compelled to involve herself into prostitution. Finally on 16/12/2009 she was rescued by her relatives with the help of the volunteers of Garan Bose Gram Bikash Kendra (GBGBK); one Civil Society Organization.

Police had not taken the incident as seriously as it was deserved. After abduction of the victim, her relatives made searches to every possible place and failed to locate her. Then on 09/10/2009 victim’s mother lodged a complaint having GDE number 390 at Basanti police station. But police did not take any action to rescue her. Getting no assistance from the police they urged assistance from one Civil Society Organization name GBGBK of District South 24 paraganas and she was rescued by them from 365 Janata Flat, Noida, Delhi.

After rescuing of the victim girl on 24/12/2009 around 1.30 pm her mother went to Basanti police station to lodge a written complaint mentioning specifically the names of the perpetrators. The duty officer of the said police station refused to receive the complaint in absence of officer in charge. Mr. Biswas; the second officer of Basanti police station also refused to lodge FIR against the accused. But he assured her that he would take necessary action. But till date no fruitful action has been taken by the police of the said police station. In addition, victim’s mother was called at the police station over phone for reasons best known to the police without any written intimation. This act is violation of Section 160 of Criminal Procedure Code of India (Cr. P. C). Our fact finding team tried a lot to talk with the police personnel of Basanti police station to get details of the incident and we were only informed that one criminal case has been initiated and the name of the investigating officer (IO) is Mr. S. K. Sarkar. But the IO refused to impart any information to us and also the victim family member about the details of the case.

The role of Special Police Officer or Trafficking Officer as mentioned in Section 13(1) of Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act, 1956 in this case is also in the dark.