Widow missing for four years rescued from brothel by Christian Anti-Human trafficking organization in India

After four years of sexual slavery she is finally set free

By Jacob Philip, Assistant Correspondent, India for
ASSIST News Service

MUMBAI, INDIA (ANS) -- A 32-year-old widow, Gangamma, missing from Karnataka state for four years, was rescued on June 28, 2011 from a brothel in Kamathipura, Mumbai, India, by Indian Rescue Mission (IRM) activists along with members of the Mumbai Police.

Rescued woman

According to Indian Rescue Mission sources, it was learnt that the woman was forced into prostitution four years ago by some unidentified men who had given her a drink laced with drugs and then kidnapped her from her hometown in Karnataka State and took her to Mumbai City.

In the raid, the police arrested Shashi Ram Tamang (45), a brothel manager, under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. The raid went on for almost two hours, after which the arrest was made.

"In the brothel, this lady had developed a relationship with a regular customer and she told him that she didn't want to continue in prostitution which she said she was forced to do and was not of her will," said Police Inspector, Jaideep Gaikwad. "So he went to her village and informed her brother and the woman's relatives then contacted the Indian Rescue Mission (IRM), who in turn contacted the local police station."

James Varghese, President of IRM said, "The woman's husband died 10 years ago and she has a daughter studying in 9th grade. Four years ago, the woman, on a visit to a place, was followed by two unidentified young men who forced her to take a drink, probably mixed with some drugs. After that she fell unconscious and eventually woke up at the brothel in Mumbai.
"Her jewelry and other costly things were stolen by those youths and after they sold her at the brothel, they took the money and went away," he added.

James Varghese with police during rescue

Speaking about the rise in the number of missing persons in India Mr. James Varghese said "According to the statistics, a huge number of young girls and older women are trafficked into metropolitan cities for sex trade. Once they go missing, many uneducated parents or their families keep searching for their loved one, but fail to file a missing complaint in their concerned Police stations.

"These parents then give up hope and wait for their loved one to return back their own. Just the way we offered help to Gangamma, people seeking help whose loved ones go missing can contact Indian Rescue Mission's help line and pass the details to us and putting in our best efforts we can bring back the girls and women."

For more information on IRM's work visit them atwww.indianrescuemission.org or mail them atindianrescuemission@gmail.com

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Jacob Philip works as a correspondent for a newspaper called "Hallelujah" in India and also serves as the assistant correspondent in India for the ASSIST News Service. Jacob lives in Bangalore and runs a software development business. He can be contacted by e-mail at:jacobforchrist@gmail.com