Sold for marriage, 17-yr-old pregnant girl rescued in Haryana

A 17-year-old girl, who was five months pregnant, was rescued from a village in Haryana where she was sold for marriage. The victim has claimed that the deal took place in a hotel in Daryaganj and the person, whom she was sold to, has even raped her.

A 17-year-old girl, who was five months pregnant, was rescued from a village in Haryana where she was sold for marriage. The victim has claimed that the deal took place in a hotel in Daryaganj and the person, whom she was sold to, has even raped her.

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The girl was rescued last month with the help of an NGO, Shakti Vahini.

Sources in Delhi Police said that traffickers are using Delhi as a centre to sell minors for marriage, prostitution and to work as domestic helps.

This year alone, the NGO has rescued over 260 minors who were brought to Delhi from states such as Assam, West Bengal and Jharkhand.

“Shahida Begum (name changed) is a native of Assam. The rescuers faced stiff resistance by the villagers, who claimed their daughter-in-law was five months pregnant,” Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini NGO said.

The police in their investigation found that Shahida was brought to Delhi by a man who is yet to be identified. “He sold her to one Rakesh for Rs 25,000 at a Daryaganj hotel. She was then taken to Shahpur village of Jind district where Rakesh married her forcibly,” the officer said. Shahida was missing since April from her house in Assam.

“There are agents in Delhi who bring girls from various states and then contact the customer,” the officer further said.