Nepali girls forced into obscene dancing in Bihar
Rithesh Tripathi
Dozens of Nepali girls are still in the grip of so-called "orchestra" organizers in Bihar, India, who force them to carry out various obscene acts in the name of "orchestra" dances, complained a group of girls who were recently rescued from such a group in Adhapur, Bihar.
Lately, such orchestras have mushroomed along the border areas in Bara and Parsa districts. The orchestra groups usually perform in late evenings and girls are forced to lewd dances to please all-male audience.
Two underage girls and a woman who were on their way to Raxual, India from New Bus Park in Birgunj were recently rescued by volunteers of social organizations working against human trafficking. After interrogation, the rescued girls disclosed that they work for an "orchestra" across the border in Bihar. The volunteers however could not capture the organizer of the "orchestra".
The rescued girls have been identified as Dipa Rai, 14, and Kalita Pariyar, 19, of Udayapur district and Chadani Sah, 16, of Sarlahi district.
According to Dipa, the orchestra organizer would physically abused them. A broker had lured her into working in the orchestra with promises of higher pay and accommodation but she was not paid for the last three months, Dipa said.
"We were thrashed severely whenever we asked for our salary."
She also said around a dozen girls are still working at the orchestra against their will. Among them, majority are underage girls.
"Many girls duped by brokers have been forced to work without pay. They are still working in the hope of getting their due salaries," said Kalita The girls also said they were held in hostage like conditions by the orchestra owner named Lalu Raja at a rented house in Bishuwa, Birgunj for the last two months. They also said the orchestra owner would regularly bribe the local police to leave them alone.
"We have learnt that dozens of Nepali girls are forcibly working in orchestras operated in the border areas. If we get police support, we can rescue the girls from their plight," said Sangita Puri, chief of Maiti Nepal´s Birgunj chapter. However, the police have not taken any initiatives to resuce them so far.
The rescued girls have been handed over to their respective families, according to the District Police Office, Parsa.
Published on: 2 June 2013 | Republica
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