Page 32 - June2018

amanna (17) and Hafiza Girls remain most
(16) are residents of 24
South Parganas, Kolkata
from the state of West
T Bengal. The girls were vulnerable targets
sold to two Kashmiri men, much
older than them for an amount of
25,000 each. Both the men are
from Tujan area of district Pulwa- The bride-buying business that amounts to trafficking is
ma, around 40-kmaway from the burgeoning in the state where numerous girls from West
main city of Srinagar, in the state of Bengal were sold for sexual abuse. Even though an NCRB
Jammu and Kashmir.
The girls’ parents are daily wage report claims that there is zero incident on trafficking in
labourers who live in a slum under the Valley, the reality on the ground portrays a quite
extremely poor condition. On top of
that, supporting a family of seven different picture, writes safina nabi
members isn’t easy at all.
One day, the parents decided to in different families but experienc- her hometown neither she wants to
marry off Tamanna and her sister ing a similar life of horror. The sis- stay in a child home. The report has
in Kashmir after an agent Shubnam ters were restrained to get in touch been sent to the CWC, Pulwama for
persuaded them that their daugh- with each other. further investigation. Once the re-
ters could lead a comfortable life port comes, we will be able to decide
and they too can earn some money The Escape how to take forward the case.
in return. One day in early morning, the On the other hand, the man who
Soon, these men from Kashmir younger sister, Hafiza, escaped the bought Tamanna is now pressuris-
got in touch with this family from house barefoot. Luckily, she saved ing her parents to ask her to return.
Bengal through Shubnam, a native the money that she received as Her parents are now trying to per-
of Bengal. The sisters were informed ‘Mahr’ to use when the right time suade Tamanna to go back as she
by the family that their marriages comes. has been married to him. Although
have been fixed and both of them Hafiza narrated, “I was praying she has been rescued, no FIR has
will be travelling to Kashmir with hard that my attempt to escape been registered against the hus-
their husbands. The marriage hap- should not fail... Had I been caught, band’s family.
pened in an informal set-up. The I would have been beaten to death.” Deputy Superintendent of Po-
Nikhnama (marriage contract) was After escaping from Kashmir she lice Farooq Ahmad said: “Although
signed and both the sisters were managed to reach Bengal. There she we are investigating the case and
given a small amount of money as met a journalist, who happened to rescued her on the NGO’s request,
‘Mahr’ (alimony) for namesake. work in Kashmir. Hafiza then nar- but,we cannot register an FIR as she
The assurance of wealthy fam- rated her ordeal and revealed the has signed the Nikahnama. Also, the
ily, healthy lifestyle-two meals a details about her sister too. The trafficker has provided it as a proof
day, and decent clothes to wear was journalist contacted a Kashmir- of marriage.”
more than everything for the girls based local NGO and informed “During the course of the investi-
and the family to fall into the trap. them about the case. The NGO with gation, we came to a conclusion that
Soon, they arrived in Kashmir via the help of police started a robust Tamanna needs to be handed over
Bengal-Delhi-Jammu route. Once investigation and finally, they were to the NGO as the girl is a minor.
they reached Tujan, Pulwama, their successful in tracing out Tamanna. She was not only married out of her
world turned upside down. The Today, Tamanna is living with a wish but was also kept in an appall-
girls were kept in horrific condi- local family in Kashmir who came ing circumstances,” Ahmad further
tions where husbands would rape to support her. They wish to become explained.
them through the hours of darkness her legal guardians now. Here, Hafiza is back to her home
and family members would make On May 22, 2018, Tamanna ap- but torment has not increased. In
them do all the household chores peared before the Child Welfare a muffled voice, Hafiza shared, “My
throughout the day. They were de- Committee (CWC). parents beat me continuously. They
prived of proper food and kept in- Explaining Tamanna’s situation, ask me, ‘why did you run away?
doors to avoid contact with outside CWC Chairperson, Munazah said, Why did you come back? They have
world. Nevertheless, the girls were “Tamanna wishes not to go back to paid us money?’”

tehelka / 15 june 2018 32 www.tehelka.com

32-33 Safina Nabi.indd 2 06/06/18 1:20 PM