Banchras in MP take to social media for sex trade

Women and middlemen of the Banchra community, who are into prostitution for ages, now use WhatsApp and other social networking sites for sex trade in Mandsaur and Neemuch districts.

Women and middlemen of the Banchra community, who are into prostitution for ages, now use WhatsApp and other social networking sites for sex trade in Mandsaur and Neemuch districts.

Police officials said about a dozen WhatsApp groups and social media accounts were run by Banchras in different names.

“Each and every girl in the community is now doing the trade through WhatsApp,” Meena (changed name), a Bachara woman, told Hindustan Times said on Friday.

Around 15,000 members of the community live in over 70 ‘deras’ – settlements – in Neemuch, Mandsaur and Ratlam districts.

The eldest daughter of a family usually becomes a prostitute and earns for the family members till old age. Then another younger girl takes over. Male members act as pimps, activists said.

“Gone are the days when women sit outside their houses on highways. Now through technology everything has changed. We contact customers (mostly truck drivers) and arrange meetings on WhatsApp,” said Meena.

“We have WhatsApp groups in which truck drivers are present. We lure them and settle everything on WhatsApp.”

Paramjeet Fouji, a member of MP Human Rights Commission who worked on Banchras, said, “Members of the community lure their customers by uploading and sending photos on social media and then they fix deals. With the help of social media, younger people of the area have started visiting Banchra settlements.”

Hitesh Patil, a police officer of Neemuch who conducted raids on Banchra settlements, said, “Banchras are now active on WhatsApp and Facebook, which makes it difficult to trace people engaged in this business. We are keeping an eye on these groups and action will be taken.”

Rani, a Banchra woman, said, “Through social media we keep our permanent customers informed about the new girls inducted into the business by sending pictures. It reduces the risk of getting caught by police.”

A section of the community – once nomadic tribals who were forced to give their girls to local chieftains – guards the tradition, which gives them income through their daughters.