JAMMU: Despite the lapse of more than 3 weeks since the Bagh e Bahu police rescued a minor girl from a brothel, the police has made no headway in nabbing rapists, hoteliers as well as intermediaries who were hand in glove with the accused woman Swarna for massive exploitation of the victim girl for sexual encounters.
Narrating her brutal account the victim girl told JK Global News “She was kidnapped from Katra by a woman identified as Swarna alongwith her accomplice Shankar Singh, Pooja and Sanju who was driving a car on fateful day”. Inside the car, they gagged me with a coarse cloth and dumped me at a dingy accommodation at Qasim Nagar from where I was rescued by police team during a raid on March 8, 2023, added victim girl.
“By drugging, Swarna coerced me into prostitution and whenever I gained my senses, they (Swarna and gang) used to threaten me of dire consequences bragging of their alleged connections with cops and a few influential associated with judicial system”, sobs victim.
Further narrating her horrible tale of exploitation, she added “Swarna used to take her to a hotel known by the name and style Dollar located in the city where Swarna would invite clients from her 02 mobile phones which police so far failed to confiscate as evidence”. By drugging, I was raped by several persons at a hotel as well as Swarna brothel in one and half month of illegal confinement and justice will continue to elude me until all the culprits are behind the bars, she added.
Reliable sources in police revealed that except accused trio namely Swarna, Pooja and Shankar Singh none of the rapists, hoteliers, autowalas as well as Sanju, a close confidant of Swarna has been arrested in connection with the kidnapping and coercing a rescued minor girl into prostitution which clearly shows that some hidden elements are hell bent to scuttle the slow paced investigation.
Coming down heavily on policing, renowned social activist and anti corruption crusader Prof SK Bhalla said “The snail’s pace of investigation by Bagh e Bahu police station clearly shows clout of POCSO accused Swarna who was given latitude for immoral activities for more than a decade. This amounts to dereliction of duties by our cops who remained posted at the aforesaid police station but did not have the temerity to take head on the manager of brothels except the one recently transferred SHO”.
Meanwhile, there is jubilation among owner of brothels, gambling dens and drug peddlers operating from Qasim Nagar over the instant transfer of SHO who busted the drug-sex racket at Qasim Nagar and booked accused Swarna under POCSO Act besides notifying her as History sheeter. This is a demoralizing move for the well meaning and law abiding citizens, complained residents of Qasim Nagar who see a design in it.
When contacted on the issue, SSP Jammu, Chandan Kohli did not respond to our calls as usual whereas, new SHO Bagh e Bahu Inspector Arti Thakur while evading to our queries said “I am busy facilitating visit of a VIP for darshan at Bawe Wali Mata”.