Ananiya is Finally Released from Prison

Ananiya (left) and our social worker on their way to lunch

Social workers Shalini and Anjana traveled to Allahabad to visit Ananiya (rescued in March 2025 from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh). 17-year-old Ananiya was wrongly imprisoned after her rescue because the police treated her as an accused instead of a victim. Our legal team worked tirelessly for her release. On December 20, 2025, Ananiya's boyfriend helped to pay her bail amount. He needed a family member to assist with the bail, so Ananiya's grandfather agreed to transfer the money, and Ananiya was finally released after 9 months in prison.

After her release, our team had no information about Ananiya's whereabouts. Our social worker, Anjana, kept trying to reach out to Ananiya’s boyfriend and grandfather but received no response. On one occasion, Ananiya's grandfather answered the phone but refused to share any details. Still, Anjana did not give up. She persisted in reaching out, and one day, Ananiya answered on her boyfriend’s phone. Anjana was relieved to finally hear Ananiya's voice. Anjana asked if they could meet. Ananiya shared that she was in Prayagraj, and she wanted to meet somewhere away from her home.

Shalini and Anjana met Ananiya in town and took her out to a Chinese restaurant. Over the meal, Ananiya shared that she is living with her boyfriend and has started a small restaurant. We are glad to hear that Ananiya has found a way to sustain herself, but we are concerned that she is living with her boyfriend while she is still a minor and unmarried. Our team will persevere in reaching out to Ananiya to ensure she is safe and connected to the resources she needs to heal from the trauma she has endured. We will continue to exhort Ananiya to make wise choices toward a better future.