Once Oppressed, Now Comforted

Ashwin Rathod, Freedom Firm India's Associate National Director, shares two major rescues in Madhya Pradesh.

"In June 2015, Freedom Firm celebrated its first successful rescue operation in Madhya Pradesh, which was led by the Madhya Pradesh police. Ten victims, including six minors, were rescued from commercial sexual exploitation in Parvaliya village. Our victory was short-lived as the child protection agencies colluded with the criminal network and handed over all victims to accomplices who pushed them back into prostitution. The police miserably failed to conduct fair investigations and shockingly charge-sheeted four victims. When we tried to lodge a complaint before higher authorities, they dismissed us and refused to take any action.

During the seven years of trial, four Freedom Firm staff were called to testify, but the Court failed to summon the minor victims to testify. In July 2022, the trial was over, and none of the criminals were held accountable for the heinous crime they had committed.

In all the regions that we work in,  Madhya Pradesh has proven to be the toughest ground so far to implement our program. Since June 2015, we have attempted approximately  50 rescue operations, out of which only 15 were successful.  For field staff, the constant struggle with police and other government authorities, clubbed with weariness and discouragement from several failed rescue operations, resulted in many of them resigning.  Should we continue our work in Madhya Pradesh or move out and start in a new region? We often wondered.

In February 2022, I remember leading a rescue operation.  Shilu from Gujarat, who was a little over nine years old, was being sexually exploited in one of the deras outside Ratlam.  The child was forced to wear a saree and engage with customers twice and thrice her age.  Even the loud makeup and saree were unable to hide her tender age.  When rescued, she told the police that her family had intentionally never enrolled her in school, which was always a dream of hers. Finally, the day came when her father sold her for five lacs to one of the ‘Deras’ in Ratlam. 

Today, Shilu is studying in class VII.  She testified in court and is determined to see justice. What an encouragement for all of us!

In December 2025, while we were following up on a few solid leads, we learned about Neenu, a  19-year-old victim who escaped from the same village where Shilu was being sexually exploited. Neenu was being sexually exploited from the time she was 14 years old. Neenu made her way to Bhopal, marched into the Mahila Thana, (Women’s police station) and lodged a First Information Report against her parents and uncles for forcing her into prostitution from the time she was just 14 years old.

In a media interview in early January, she said, “I was offered by my own family to customers just at Rs. 200 when I was supposed to have books in my hands and study.” It was a heart-wrenching story.  She then shared that more than 1000 girls, including her three sisters, were being sexually exploited in different deras.

A month later, Neenu got some good news.  The police and our team raided one of the brothels.  We rescued a 15-year-old victim from the same dera where Neenu had escaped. The victim turned out to be one of her sisters.  What a miracle!

While we look for Neenu’s other sisters and search for other victims who are being sexually exploited, we are thankful that these two sisters are out of danger, walking on the path of restoration, and seeking justice. 

Thank you for being part of this sometimes exciting and sometimes heartbreaking journey.  We have experienced and continue to encounter so many challenges in Madhya Pradesh. Your support and partnership motivate and encourage our team to press on towards our goal.  Together we can end this social evil, crime and injustice."

Ashwin Rathod, Associate National Director, Freedom Firm