Brave husband pretends to be customer and rescues trafficked wife

Justice and Care takes up her case in court to ensure perpetrators are punished

MUMBAI, 20TH FEBRUARY 2012: When Manju* came out of the brothel, she was exhausted. For weeks she had spent every last bit of energy planning her escape, putting those plans into motion and living in fear of discovery.

But even through the haze of relief and joy at being reunited with her husband, Manju could only think of one thing; punishing her captors.

Manju told the police how, while waiting for a train from Bangalore to her hometown, she had been drugged and pulled onto a bus. When she woke up midway through the journey, she found that the trafficker had taken her mobile phone and all her money. He threatened to kill her if she made a scene. Frightened, she kept quiet. But she never gave up hope.

The trafficker sold her to a brothel in Mumbai where two women beat her and burnt her with cigarettes until she agreed to work as a prostitute. She tried to escape but was brought back to the brothel. Manju says that two policemen witnessed this but were bribed to keep quiet.

Finally, a customer lent Manju his mobile phone so she could call her husband. He rushed to Mumbai and came to the brothel, pretending to be a customer. The next day, he returned with the police and rescued her. The two women who had enslaved her were arrested.

Justice and Care has taken up Manju’s case and will fight for her in court. We appealed to the Deputy Commissioner of police in Mumbai on Manju’s behalf and he took swift action against the officials who were bribed to turn a blind eye to Manju’s plight.

Because of Manju’s unwavering and compelling statement, a Mumbai court today refused to grant the two women bail and has ordered charges to be filed against them.

Soon Manju will testify against them in court. We believe with her that justice will prevail.

Visit our blog over the next few months for more updates on Manju’s case.

* Name changed to protect victim's identity