Delhi Police has arrested a couple and six of their aides, who have been involved in the human trafficking in Delhi’s Grastin Bastion (GB) Road since 1999.
According to a Times of India report, the police has arrested Saira Begum, her husband Aafaq Hussain, and six of their aides and booked them under the strict Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act.
Saira (45) and Aafaq (50) handled a syndicate that is suspected to have trafficked more than 5,000 girls from Nepal and remote areas of West Bengal, Assam, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and other states.
During the interrogation, it was found that the syndicate has reportedly raked in around Rs 100 crore till date as they “bought” girls for Rs 50,000 and sold them for up to Rs 2 lakh. The younger the girl, the higher the price they quoted.
The girls who were brought to the kothas of GB Road were cramped in almirahs and tunnels and were forced to entertain clients in small compartments.
“The arrests had been made under sections 3 and 4 of MCOCA. We will share all details when the operation is over,” Joint Commissioner (crime) Ravindra Yadav was quoted by Times of India as saying.
Other than Hussain and Begum, the police are arrested their driver Ramesh and chief manager Vasu. The four other aides arrested have been identified as Samshad, Shilpi, Mumtaz and Puja Thapa. All the accused have been sent to judicial custody till September 2.
“Saira Begum controlled the racket which was extremely organised and managed by the nayikas, paid managers, their assistants and traffickers. The unchecked inter-state movement of girls is not possible without an active organised crime syndicate behind it,” said a police officer.
Hussain and Begum started the trafficking business in 1999 with one kotha in GB Road and now at least four others, along with several properties and shops.
Saira and Aafaq have been arrested in several cases since 1990. Saira was sentenced seven years of imprisonment in 2001 but returned to trade soon after.
Delhi Police said that they have enough evidence against the couple, including statements from trafficked girls.
The data prepared by different NGOs made a shocking revelation that every year, almost 60,000 Nepalese girls are brought into India for prostitution.
