Noida: Dreams of the big city were all about that. So, in 2018, a woman of Assam Packed some of her belongings and came to Noida with the promise of a job. Instead, she was “sold” to a 55-year-old businessman, who raped and tortured her for four years in a high-rise building in the city.
Seven months ago, a 25-year-old woman from West Bengal had to go through a similar test. He was also imprisoned in Naveen Gupta4BHK Flats in Sector 107.
“It was not a normal house… it was worse than hell,” the 30-year-old from Assam told TOI. “Gupta pretended to show us love and care, but he became a monster after drinking alcohol. He will rape and torture us. Whenever he or his family went out, we were locked inside,” said the woman from Bengal.
Gupta lived in the flat with his wife (52) and daughter (18) and the police are probing his role in the case.
Both the women were rescued in January this year after an NGO complained to the police that a man running a business in Delhi was holding them against their will at their home in Sunworld Vanalika.
Gupta was arrested on January 28, under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 370 (smuggling), 376 (rape), and 506 (criminal intimidation). was recorded.
Both these women are among 104 people rescued from Gautam Budh Nagar district last year. The police have registered 14 cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and two under the Bonded Labor (Abolition) Act during this period.
Officials said the pandemic appears to have prompted those involved in the human trafficking business to think out-of-the-box. Vrinda Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Women’s Security) said, “The illegal trade has become more organized.”
In most of the recent cases, victims often came to Noida voluntarily from West Bengal, Bihar and northeastern states. They were told that they would find work as full-time domestic workers or at places like spas. From here they were pushed into prostitution or sex trafficking. “Many of them were also victims of sexual abuse as bonded labourers,” Shukla said.
Another reason, police said, is the loss of jobs during the pandemic forcing women into prostitution in recent years. “The situation got worse for the people. Many people fell into the trap of trafficking or because of this they were forced to take up prostitution. Similarly, being locked inside made it easier for criminals to abuse victims,” said Yogita Bhayana, founder, People Against Rapes in India (PARI).
There has also been a change in the practices of those promoting illegal trade. Now, criminals also work virtually, making it difficult for the police to catch them red-handed.
“During the pandemic, a new modus operandi was observed. These gangs nowadays do not run any brothels or physical establishments. They have a number or mobile app where one can call or book. After this the girl will be sent to that person’s house or hotel.” DCP He said the number of such cases has increased in the last two years.
In November 2021, the Noida Police busted a prostitution racket where bookings were made through WhatsApp. Three members of the gang have been arrested in the raid. He had directed the three women to go to hotels and homes after receiving the payment online.
“It has become so systematic. The women running these rackets do not accompany the women to hotels or guest houses. This way, they avoid arrest,” Shukla said.
District officials said they have begun to change their response to sex trafficking victims. Earlier, when a case came to the fore, women were asked to stay in the police stations and this always increased the chances of their identity being exposed.
To address this concern, the central government in 2015 launched “One Stop Centres” – places where abused women can stay safe and get counseling. About 75 such centers have been established in Uttar Pradesh over the past few years.
Shanvik beThe in-charge of the One Stop Center in Noida said that two women from Assam and Bengal were given shelter in the city and have now returned to their hometowns.
“Around 500-600 women were given shelter in around 2021. Most of the cases came through the police and some directly or through helpline numbers,” she said.
When asked about the process of rehabilitation, Bano said, “Our most important objective is to provide a safe environment to a woman. Then, we try to create a space where women are ready to share that trauma. can feel what she has gone through.”
One Stop Center counselor Shweta Singh said the idea was also to give women space to recover. “We try not to talk too much about what they went through. Instead, we try to get them back to lead a better and normal life,” she said.
Activists said law enforcement agencies need to detect such cases early. Meenakshi Tyagi, founder, Nari Pragati Social Foundation, said, “Smuggling is detected only after the women are rescued.”
The cases of human trafficking in the state have increased in the last few years. According to the NCRB, the number of such cases increased from 46 in 2017 to 90 in 2020.
Seven months ago, a 25-year-old woman from West Bengal had to go through a similar test. He was also imprisoned in Naveen Gupta4BHK Flats in Sector 107.
“It was not a normal house… it was worse than hell,” the 30-year-old from Assam told TOI. “Gupta pretended to show us love and care, but he became a monster after drinking alcohol. He will rape and torture us. Whenever he or his family went out, we were locked inside,” said the woman from Bengal.
Gupta lived in the flat with his wife (52) and daughter (18) and the police are probing his role in the case.
Both the women were rescued in January this year after an NGO complained to the police that a man running a business in Delhi was holding them against their will at their home in Sunworld Vanalika.
Gupta was arrested on January 28, under IPC sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 342 (wrongful confinement), 370 (smuggling), 376 (rape), and 506 (criminal intimidation). was recorded.
Both these women are among 104 people rescued from Gautam Budh Nagar district last year. The police have registered 14 cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and two under the Bonded Labor (Abolition) Act during this period.
Officials said the pandemic appears to have prompted those involved in the human trafficking business to think out-of-the-box. Vrinda Shukla, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Women’s Security) said, “The illegal trade has become more organized.”
In most of the recent cases, victims often came to Noida voluntarily from West Bengal, Bihar and northeastern states. They were told that they would find work as full-time domestic workers or at places like spas. From here they were pushed into prostitution or sex trafficking. “Many of them were also victims of sexual abuse as bonded labourers,” Shukla said.
Another reason, police said, is the loss of jobs during the pandemic forcing women into prostitution in recent years. “The situation got worse for the people. Many people fell into the trap of trafficking or because of this they were forced to take up prostitution. Similarly, being locked inside made it easier for criminals to abuse victims,” said Yogita Bhayana, founder, People Against Rapes in India (PARI).
There has also been a change in the practices of those promoting illegal trade. Now, criminals also work virtually, making it difficult for the police to catch them red-handed.
“During the pandemic, a new modus operandi was observed. These gangs nowadays do not run any brothels or physical establishments. They have a number or mobile app where one can call or book. After this the girl will be sent to that person’s house or hotel.” DCP He said the number of such cases has increased in the last two years.
In November 2021, the Noida Police busted a prostitution racket where bookings were made through WhatsApp. Three members of the gang have been arrested in the raid. He had directed the three women to go to hotels and homes after receiving the payment online.
“It has become so systematic. The women running these rackets do not accompany the women to hotels or guest houses. This way, they avoid arrest,” Shukla said.
District officials said they have begun to change their response to sex trafficking victims. Earlier, when a case came to the fore, women were asked to stay in the police stations and this always increased the chances of their identity being exposed.
To address this concern, the central government in 2015 launched “One Stop Centres” – places where abused women can stay safe and get counseling. About 75 such centers have been established in Uttar Pradesh over the past few years.
Shanvik beThe in-charge of the One Stop Center in Noida said that two women from Assam and Bengal were given shelter in the city and have now returned to their hometowns.
“Around 500-600 women were given shelter in around 2021. Most of the cases came through the police and some directly or through helpline numbers,” she said.
When asked about the process of rehabilitation, Bano said, “Our most important objective is to provide a safe environment to a woman. Then, we try to create a space where women are ready to share that trauma. can feel what she has gone through.”
One Stop Center counselor Shweta Singh said the idea was also to give women space to recover. “We try not to talk too much about what they went through. Instead, we try to get them back to lead a better and normal life,” she said.
Activists said law enforcement agencies need to detect such cases early. Meenakshi Tyagi, founder, Nari Pragati Social Foundation, said, “Smuggling is detected only after the women are rescued.”
The cases of human trafficking in the state have increased in the last few years. According to the NCRB, the number of such cases increased from 46 in 2017 to 90 in 2020.