Prayagraj : sessions court honored on Tuesday rigorous imprisonment 41 accused from (RI) were found involved human trafficking And prostitution racket A major police operation was busted in Mirganj, Prayagraj on 1st May, 2016.
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rachna Singh All the 15 accused of human trafficking were given RI of 14 years while the remaining 26 accused of prostitution were given RI of 10 years.
Earlier, on January 18, 2022, the Additional Sessions Judge had convicted 41 people found involved in prostitution and human trafficking, which was once going on in Mirganj. The ASJ, while passing the order of conviction, had said that it would sentence the accused on January 25.
The ASJ had convicted the accused on the basis of the facts and evidence available against them. After this, on Tuesday, after hearing the defense lawyers appearing for the prosecution and the District Government’s lawyer (criminal) Gulab Chandra Agrahari, the sentence was sentenced.
It is alleged that these accused used to take advantage of the poverty and other compulsions of the girls and take them away from their native places. Thereafter, they used to sell them in the red light area of Mirganj, where they were eventually forced to engage in prostitution.
Some social organizations and activists had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the High Court, which directed the concerned authorities to take appropriate steps to remove the illegal prostitution and human trafficking going on in the heart of the city.
Acting on the directions of the High Court, the District Administration and the Police Department launched a massive ‘Operation Freedom’ on Labor Day on 1 May 2016 to clean up the Mirganj area. As a result, many girls, many of whom were minors, were rescued from brothels.
During the operation, 48 people were arrested and criminal cases were registered against them. After the hearing, the court in its January 18 verdict had convicted 41 accused.
‘Careful planning, brilliant teamwork ensured success’
news network
Senior IAS officer Sanjay Kumar, who was the district magistrate of Prayagraj (then Allahabad) when the racket was busted in 2016, recalls how the operation was planned and executed.
“I and the then SSP Sunil Emanuel, along with a local NGO Gudiya, worked for over a month to collect data with just three-four officials to understand the whole situation on the ground.
I also went on rickshaw and bike many times wearing casuals and caps and did recce of the area. No one knew much about the operation until a ‘fall in’ was announced at the police lines at 10 am on Sunday when the local market was closed.
This was planned because all roads leading to the red-light area can be closed without any problems. Everyone was informed, more than 500 to 600 constables, some magistrates were posted and told that no girl should be caught.
We had planned in advance for the rescue center with full team of doctors, food and lodging facilities till they were produced in court and examined. Good coordination with the judiciary ensured that the media did not chase much, as later the judicial magistrate came to the place where he was kept in the official residence to take his statement.
Some women aged 50 and above, who were the main drain in the red-light area, were caught unknowingly. His own local contact with the local police station and outpost was caught snoozing, as we had deployed a team from outside the area.
Apart from the DM and SSP, hardly four-five officers knew about our plan. Everything was videographed, recorded and a team of government advocates worked through the detailed paperwork.
Later, we sent an escort team to shift the arrested persons to Agra Women’s Rescue Center in buses, duly escorted by a team of police personnel following the court order. Meticulous planning, coordination at the state level and all agencies and great teamwork ensured the success.”
Additional Sessions Judge (ASJ) Rachna Singh All the 15 accused of human trafficking were given RI of 14 years while the remaining 26 accused of prostitution were given RI of 10 years.
Earlier, on January 18, 2022, the Additional Sessions Judge had convicted 41 people found involved in prostitution and human trafficking, which was once going on in Mirganj. The ASJ, while passing the order of conviction, had said that it would sentence the accused on January 25.
The ASJ had convicted the accused on the basis of the facts and evidence available against them. After this, on Tuesday, after hearing the defense lawyers appearing for the prosecution and the District Government’s lawyer (criminal) Gulab Chandra Agrahari, the sentence was sentenced.
It is alleged that these accused used to take advantage of the poverty and other compulsions of the girls and take them away from their native places. Thereafter, they used to sell them in the red light area of Mirganj, where they were eventually forced to engage in prostitution.
Some social organizations and activists had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) before the High Court, which directed the concerned authorities to take appropriate steps to remove the illegal prostitution and human trafficking going on in the heart of the city.
Acting on the directions of the High Court, the District Administration and the Police Department launched a massive ‘Operation Freedom’ on Labor Day on 1 May 2016 to clean up the Mirganj area. As a result, many girls, many of whom were minors, were rescued from brothels.
During the operation, 48 people were arrested and criminal cases were registered against them. After the hearing, the court in its January 18 verdict had convicted 41 accused.
‘Careful planning, brilliant teamwork ensured success’
news network
Senior IAS officer Sanjay Kumar, who was the district magistrate of Prayagraj (then Allahabad) when the racket was busted in 2016, recalls how the operation was planned and executed.
“I and the then SSP Sunil Emanuel, along with a local NGO Gudiya, worked for over a month to collect data with just three-four officials to understand the whole situation on the ground.
I also went on rickshaw and bike many times wearing casuals and caps and did recce of the area. No one knew much about the operation until a ‘fall in’ was announced at the police lines at 10 am on Sunday when the local market was closed.
This was planned because all roads leading to the red-light area can be closed without any problems. Everyone was informed, more than 500 to 600 constables, some magistrates were posted and told that no girl should be caught.
We had planned in advance for the rescue center with full team of doctors, food and lodging facilities till they were produced in court and examined. Good coordination with the judiciary ensured that the media did not chase much, as later the judicial magistrate came to the place where he was kept in the official residence to take his statement.
Some women aged 50 and above, who were the main drain in the red-light area, were caught unknowingly. His own local contact with the local police station and outpost was caught snoozing, as we had deployed a team from outside the area.
Apart from the DM and SSP, hardly four-five officers knew about our plan. Everything was videographed, recorded and a team of government advocates worked through the detailed paperwork.
Later, we sent an escort team to shift the arrested persons to Agra Women’s Rescue Center in buses, duly escorted by a team of police personnel following the court order. Meticulous planning, coordination at the state level and all agencies and great teamwork ensured the success.”
,