Freedom Firm social worker Archana first read about 13-year old Kashi’s rescue in a local newspaper in January 2020. After a few calls, Archana arrived at the shelter home where Kashi was staying and heard pieces of Kashi's story....
Kashi was rescued at a local dhaba (roadside restaurant) where her trafficker was trying to sell her off to another party. Another customer at the dhaba noticed the two men with the 13 year old girl, suspected something was wrong and called the police. The police arrived quickly to rescue Kashi and arrest the two men.
Kashi was placed in the home where Archana conducted life skills. Kashi was quiet and did not share much about her past life during counseling sessions. During the lockdown in 2020 and 2021, Archana continued to have virtual sessions with Kashi and other girls in the shelter home.
In July 2021, we received a certified copy of Kashi’s case file from the court. We discovered that Kashi’s father sold her to a trafficker named Govind for Rs 40,000 (about $500). Govind then brought Kashi to her cousin Rani’s house in Neemuch, Madhya Pradesh. Rani also grew up in Bihar before her parents sold her. She was trafficked to Neemuch for prostitution a few years ago and was involved in forcing Kashi into prostitution. When Archana spoke to Kashi, she learned that Kashi’s father was still living in Bihar, unconcerned about his daughter.
On July 24, 2021, Archana went to the police station and reported the news she had learned from the court case file, about Kashi’s father. She shared that he was the one responsible for selling his 13-year old daughter into the sex trade.The police took her unofficial complaint seriously and on July 29, 2021, Kashi’s father was arrested and taken into police custody in Bihar.
We can only hope that he receives a just punishment for selling his daughter. Govind and Rani were also arrested, but today are out on bail. We expect Kashi’s father will also apply for bail, so Freedom Firm is working to oppose his bail request. We are also working to get Govind and Rani’s bail cancelled. We plan to expedite the trial case through legal intervention. Freedom Firm will continue fighting for the justice Kashi deserves.
We are so thankful that Kashi is safe today and getting the care and attention she needs to rebuild her life. Archana shares,
“Kashi has improved so much. She has put on weight and looks healthier. She gets on well with other girls. She enjoys doing chores around the shelter home and has expressed an interest to study.”