Concerned for Samina

Samina and her baby after their rescue.

Seventeen year old Samina (rescued in July 2025 from Sankharipota, Kolkata) met our liaison officer and social worker at count on August 6th, 2025. She told them that she wants to give her husband another chance, even though he illegally married her when she was underaged. Samina shared that the investigating officer also visited Samina a few days before and asked her to give her husband another chance. When the team met the judge they learned Samina's husband had been granted bail (he was booked under the child marriage act at the time of Samina’s rescue).

Samina’s sister-in-law has also been trying to influence her. She threatened Samina that if she does not help to get bail for her brother (Samina's husband) that they will send her back to the shelter home. A few days ago Samina came to visit Samina at her mother’s house. The sister-in-law asked Samina to go and get food for them and while Samina was gone, she gave Samina's mother a document to sign. The document, a Vakalatnama, is a legal document that gives their lawyer permission to represent Samina in the court and to act on her behalf. Samina's mother is illiterate and signed the document. We can't help but be concerned about Samina. We will continue to visit her and keep an eye on things.