Sat Apr 19 15:38:59 UTC 2025: **Jaipur NGO Busted for Trafficking, Forcing Hundreds into Marriages**

JAIPUR, Rajasthan — A major human trafficking ring operating under the guise of a non-profit organization, the Gayatri Sarv Samaj Foundation, has been exposed following the daring escape of a 17-year-old girl. The NGO, based near Jaipur, allegedly trafficked and forced at least 1,500 girls and women into marriages over the past eight years.

On April 6th, 17-year-old Neelam, a member of a Scheduled Caste community from Uttar Pradesh, escaped the NGO’s farmhouse, scaling a 12-foot wall. She had been kidnapped, sold for marriage, and subjected to abuse. Her escape led to a police raid and the arrest of four individuals associated with the foundation. Another victim, 40-year-old Sahiba from West Bengal, was also rescued. She revealed that she was lured by a false job promise and subsequently sold multiple times before ending up at the NGO.

Police investigations revealed the NGO’s systematic operation. Girls and women, primarily from vulnerable communities in states like West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, and Assam, were purchased for ₹2.5 lakh to ₹5 lakh and sold to older men, often in western Rajasthan. The price was reportedly determined by the victim’s physical attributes. The NGO forged age certificates for underage girls to facilitate these forced marriages.

While five previous FIRs were filed against the NGO in Jaipur over the past nine years, no action was taken. The current investigation, launched after Neelam’s complaint, includes charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, and sections related to kidnapping, criminal conspiracy, rape, and wrongful confinement. Neelam’s marriage has been invalidated.

The police are actively searching for the man who married Neelam and other traffickers. They are also working to identify and assist other potential victims. The alarming incident highlights the prevalence of human trafficking and forced marriages, particularly impacting women from marginalized communities in India. The investigation underscores the need for greater vigilance and stronger enforcement against such crimes. The rescued women are currently receiving support at shelters, while the investigation continues.

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