Woman rescued from brothel finds 2-yr-old daughter abandoned by man who sold her into flesh trade
Woman rescued from brothel finds 2-yr-old daughter abandoned by man who sold her into flesh trade
ADVERTISEMENT
Something flashed before Head Constable Babanrao Irale's eyes as 25-year-old Jyotsna Papu Das described the two-year-old daughter taken from her and abandoned by the man who sold her into prostitution. It was the image of a child brought to him during Ganeshotsav by a shopkeeper.
He remembered he had handed over the child to an NGO after no one had come to claim it. Thanks to Irale, Das and her daughter were reunited yesterday.
Das, of Gramjiroh in North 24 Parganas district, was separated from her alcoholic husband and discovered love again in a man named Ajay Mali (30) from the same village. Mali promised to look after her two daughters and they began living as man and wife. But it was all a ruse on Mali's part to make money.
Das said Mali along with an accomplice brought her and her cousin to the city and sold them into prostitution, later abandoning her two-year-old daughter in a temple on September 21, 2010. The police rescued Das in a raid on Budhwar Peth, the red light area of the city, and sent her back to West Bengal.
Later, Das lodged a police complaint against Mali. She was escorted back to the city by the West Bengal police to find her missing daughter yesterday.
The traumatised woman narrated her story and gave the description of her missing daughter to Irale.
"The lady said her daughter was two years old and was separated from her on September 21," said Irale.
"When she said the girl was clad in a yellow frock, was fair and had a rounded nose, I remembered a girl who was brought to me by a shopkeeper in Tulshibaug."
Irale said the shopkeeper had handed over the girl to the police, saying he had found her in the Ram temple at Tulshibaug.
"The baby was quietly sleeping. Those were Ganesh festival days, and I thought the child must have gone missing in the crowd, and I waited for her parents to return. But as no one came to claim the child, I handed it over the to the NGO Shreevatsha," said Irale. "The lady's description of the child exactly matched the one I had seen, and we took the woman to the NGO to conduct an identity parade."
The authorities at the NGO kept the child the police had brought to them along with the other babies, and Das immediately recognised her daughter. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she called out to her by her name, Papiya.
"The poor baby took a little while to recognise her mother, but soon enough she was glued to her mother like a magnet," said Irale.
Now Das will be handed over her daughter after necessary legal procedures are completed, but she still has to find her cousin, who was sold to another brothel keeper.
"God heard my cries and finally gave me my daughter back. I will toil hard to educate both my daughters so that they do not have to face the same situation ever in their life," said Das. "I pray for the safety and security of my cousin Sathi, who was sold to another madam on the same day as I was. I wish the authorities can help me find her."
Senior PI Motichand Rathod, the in-charge of Vishrambaug police station, lauded Irale's role in the happy reunion. "Irale has shown great sharpness of mind in the case, and it is commendable," said Rathod.
"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels 
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
