- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 24 Dec 2024 05:30 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
A deeply unsettling case of child trafficking has surfaced in Gujarat, where a father reportedly sold his seven-year-old daughter to a man in Rajasthan for Rs 4 lakh to clear a debt owed by his nephew. After five harrowing months, the girl was rescued by police in Alwar and has since undergone medical examination.
According to Vijay Patel, Superintendent of Police in Gujarat's Sabarkantha district, the father was pressured into this horrifying act after his nephew, Dilip, took an advance of Rs1.6 lakh from his employer and then vanished, leaving the family to bear the debt. The father, who had guaranteed the loan, faced relentless demands from the lender.
Under immense pressure, another relative, Arjun, suggested an unthinkable solution: selling the girl to settle the debt. Despite the mother’s strong objections, the father agreed to the plan, which led to the illegal transaction.
Moreover, Police investigations revealed a notarised agreement signed by the father and five relatives with the buyer, Ummed Singh from Alwar. The agreement stated that the girl would later marry Singh's son upon reaching adulthood. Rs 4 lakh which was received from the deal was divided among the parties involved.
Out of the total amount, Rs 1.6 lakh was allocated to Dilip to settle his debt, Rs 30,000 was given to Arjun for arranging the deal, and Rs20,000 was paid to Lakhpati Nat for providing the vehicle used to transport the girl. The father retained the remaining Rs1.9 lakh.
On Saturday, the police arrested Arjun Nat, Sharifa Nat, Lakhpati Nat, and Shravan Nat, all accused of facilitating the crime. However, the girl’s father and Ummed Singh, the buyer, are still on the run.
The rescued girl disclosed that she was forced to perform household chores such as cleaning, mopping, and washing dishes during her time at Ummed Singh’s home.