Dhruba Dangal

"He would sell big dreams to innocent girls. After they fell into his trap, he would fix a fake marriage if he found the girls attractive and use them the way he wanted. After a few months, he supplied the girls to brothels in Agra city of India. If they resisted, he would severely beat and treat them in a cruel manner."

This was how six Nepali women narrated their suffering after being sold to a brothel in India by Bajir Singh Tamang of Shikharpur- 9, Sindhupalchowk district. Six of the women, who managed to escape from the brothel with the help of Tamang´s ex-wife, testified against Tamang in the court and demanded stringent action against him. The women, who spent from 2 to 4 years in the brothel, demanded severe action against the culprit during a hearing at the district court in Sindhupalchowk a week ago.

According to the victims, Tamang is not just a mole but the ringleader of a human trafficking network active in their village. Tamang was arrested one and half years ago. Police have also identified seven people who are part of Tamang´s network and arrested two others. Police said a search team has been mobilized to hunt down the rest of the members. "The other two members of the gang, Tekbahadur BK and Sukuman Dung, were arrested a year ago," DSP Basanta Lama said.

According to the women, Tamang himself owns a brothel in Shahid Nagar in Agra city of India. "He runs a brothel and also supplies girls to other brothels for as much as Rs 300,000," said one of the victims Chautara E (name changed).

Tamang was a driver before he became involved in human trafficking. He allegedly supplied a girl to Agra for the first time in 2008 on the advice of his sister Tara Tamang. Soon after that Tamang supplied seven girls to the same brothel followed by many others in due course of time.

Published on: 1 July 2012 | Republica