Latest news with #AbrahamMathai
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Bangladeshi girl, 14, rescued from sex racket in Maharashtra says 200 men abused her in 3 months
She ran away from home in Bangladesh after she failed a subject in school, and ended up in a sex racket across the border in India, where 200 men sexually assaulted her in three months since — this is what a 14-year-old girl rescued from Maharashtra's Palghar district has reportedly told the police and her rescuers. Of the 10 persons arrested so far after a raid on a flat in Naigaon in Vasai on July 26, six are Bangladeshi nationals. These include three of the five victims, including the 14-year-old girl.(Pixabay/Representative) Officials said her statement is being verified. The girl was rescued by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar Police, in a joint operation with NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation. Of the 10 persons arrested so far after a raid on a flat in Naigaon in Vasai on July 26, six are Bangladeshi nationals. These include three of the five victims, including the 14-year-old girl, who were allegedly trafficked to different locations, including Navi Mumbai and Pune in Maharashtra, and places in Gujarat and Karnataka, too. In her statement at a juvenile detention centre, the 14-year-old said she was first trafficked to Nadiad in Gujarat, where she suffered abuse, a police official told PTI. How the Bangladeshi teen ended up in sex racket Harmony Foundation president Abraham Mathai said the girl had failed in a subject in school, after which she ran away from home. She was then made to cross over into India illegally by a woman she knew, who then pushed her into the flesh trade, Mathai was quoted saying. Police officials also said the girl may have been given hormonal injections to induce premature puberty, and sedatives to keep her from running away. The traffickers and agents branded her with a hot spoon to force her into submission, an official told PTI. Human rights activist Madhu Shankar told the news agency that there are several instances of girls being abducted when they are infants, and then pushed into the flesh trade as minors after being given such injections. Racket may be wider, say cops Those arrested after the Palghar raid include main accused Mohammad Khalid Abdul Bapari (33), who allegedly trafficked the victims to various cities; and Juber Harun Sheikh (38) and Shamim Gafar Sardar (39), also alleged to be agents. Efforts are on to unravel a wider racket. MBVV police chief Niket Kaushik said teams have been dispatched to various places in the country. A case was registered on July 27 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice Act, Foreigners Act and the Passport Act, the police added.
News18
2 days ago
- News18
12-Year-Old Bangladeshi Girl Raped By 200 Men Over 3 Months Near Mumbai, 10 Arrested
Last Updated: 10 people have been arrested after a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl, rescued from a prostitution racket in Vasai, alleged rape by over 200 men in three months In a shocking case, a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl has alleged that she was sexually exploited by more than 200 men over a span of three months before being rescued from a prostitution racket in Naigaon, near Vasai in Palghar district of Maharashtra. According to officials, the rescue took place on July 26 during an operation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police, with assistance from NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation. 10 people have been arrested so far. 'The 12-year-old girl in the juvenile home said that she was first taken to Nadiad in Gujarat and was sexually abused by more than 200 men over a period of three months there. This girl has not even seen her adolescence, but her childhood has been snatched away by such brutes," said Harmony Foundation founder-president Abraham Mathai. Mathai also said that the girl had run away with a woman she knew after failing a subject in school and fearing her parents' reaction. 'That woman brought her to India secretly and pushed her into prostitution," he said, demanding the arrest of all the men the child named. Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik said the MBVV police are 'using all its strength to expose the whole network and ensure a safe environment for vulnerable teenagers". Similar cases are being reported regularly. 'I have often seen minor girls begging in the Vashi and Belapur areas, often stolen from villages as children, brought to cities and then exploited. They are managed by one or two older women who also push them into prostitution. They are also given hormonal injections so that they mature quickly," said social activist Madhu Shankar. Police have said the investigation is ongoing to trace all individuals involved in the network, including those accused of exploitation. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: August 11, 2025, 12:37 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Raped by 200 men in 3 months: 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl rescued in flesh trade racket bust in Mumbai
Mumbai: Revealing the brutal realities of human trafficking , a 12-year-old Bangladeshi girl rescued during a recent flesh trade racket bust at Naigaon in Vasai said she was sexually abused by over 200 men in a span of three months. The girl was rescued on July 26, after NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation assisted the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of Mira-Bhayandar Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police. Ten people have been arrested in this case so far. "At the remand home, the 12-year-old girl said she was first taken to Nadiad in Gujarat and sexually abused by over 200 men in a span of three months. This girl has not even reached her teenage years, but her childhood has been stolen by such monsters in the flesh trade," said Abraham Mathai, founder- chairman of Harmony Foundation. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai "As the girl had failed in one subject in school, out of fear of her strict parents she decided to run away from home along with a woman who was an acquaintance. The woman sneaked her into India and pushed her into flesh trade," said Mathai, demanding the arrest of all 200 men who abused the girl. Police commissioner Niket Kaushik assured that MBVV police is "using its full force to unearth the entire network and ensure a safe environment for vulnerable adolescents". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 Most Gorgeous Women, Ranked BigGlobalTravel Undo Mathai pointed out that this child's ordeal is not a solitary tragedy. "Behind every such rescue," he said, "is a child who wasn't heard; a child failed first by those meant to protect her, and then by a society that only reacts when it's too late." When parents, often with good intentions, wield strictness, they can unknowingly build walls where bridges are needed, he added. Activist Madhu Shankar said: "I have often seen minor girls begging in Vashi and Belapur areas, who are often stolen as babies from villages, brought to cities and then exploited. They are handled by one or two elderly women who also push them into prostitution. They are even administered hormonal injections so that they attain puberty earlier." Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
26-07-2025
- Time of India
Mumbai girl rescued from child marriage returns to school
Mumbai: A minor girl from Kurla, who at the age of 12 last year was rescued from a terrible child marriage plan, has now resumed her school education in the city after overcoming her ordeal. Last year in July, the minor's mother and relatives took her to Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh to get her married to an older man. The Mumbai-based Harmony Foundation NGO, who learned about this illegal marriage through their sources, then alerted the senior AP police officers and successfully rescued the girl. The Founder-Chairperson of Harmony Foundation, Abraham Mathai, said, "We are happy that the rescued girl,who is now 13 years old, has restarted her school education after a year-long gap. She lost her father a few years ago, and her mother remarried. However, they were forcing her to get married when she was just 12 years old." You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai After donning her school uniform, the girl gleefully went back to her old alma mater, God Day School in Chembur. "I want to become a doctor when I grow up," she replied when asked what her future career plan was. "Meeting this brave young girl was both heart-wrenching and deeply inspiring. At just 12 years old, she faced a tragedy no child should ever endure — the loss of her father, the betrayal of trust by those meant to protect her, especially her mother, and the horrifying reality of being pushed into child marriage. Her life was nearly snatched away, and her freedom vanished before her eyes. In a world where hope often feels distant for children like her, justice has thankfully prevailed," said Mathai. He added that while we often speak of women empowerment, supporting and protecting our girls is not just a slogan — "it's the least we can do. Ensuring every girl child has the right to education, dignity, and safety must remain our highest priority. He also thanked the Andhra Pradesh police force for quickly acting on their complaint about the forced child marriage.
