Pune: It’s been three months since a labourer, Ramdas Uike (name changed) from Daryapur taluka of Amravati district is running from pillar to post to rescue his wife and seven-year-old daughter. They have been trafficked to a brothel in Budhwar Peth but Pune police are least concerned, though Uike approached them repeatedly for help.
“Three months ago, after an argument over my drinking habit, my wife left home with my daughter. I thought she went to a relative’s house. When she didn’t return after 4-5 days, I started searching for her. I enquired with relatives and friends and neighbouring villages. After one-and-half months I was informed that my wife and daughter were trafficked to a brothel in Pune.”
Uike came to Pune and spotted his daughter outside a brothel in Budhwar Peth. He went there posing as a customer for a week and spotted his daughter at a brothel. “I spotted my daughter at building no. 3. My daughter came running to me when she saw me. The moment I took her to escape, 7-8 men started assaulting me. They took me to the brothel owner who identified herself as Chhaya, but when I asked her to return my daughter, she told me my wife sold her for Rs 50,000 and asked me to leave,” said Uike.
“I told them I will go to the police, but they said they don’t care. I know that she was making up the story. Both my wife and daughter have been trafficked there,” he added. Uike said he went to Shukrawar Peth police chowki for help. He said, “I told a police constable about my ordeal but I was told to leave or else I will be beaten up more.”
Uike went back to his village. He returned to Pune in the last week of August to continue his search.
“I went to Budhwar Peth, but this time I was not able to spot my wife or daughter. Then I went to Faraskhana police station. I requested them to file my complaint but they told me they are busy with preparations for Ganesh festival and asked me to come later,” said Uike.
Later, Uike with the help of lawyer Sameer Dhaniwala contacted Chetna Mahila Vikas Kendra in Pune, who then approached Rescue Foundation for help. When contacted, Dhaniwala said, “The man is very poor and is searching for his wife for three months. His wife left the house over an argument but then the situation went out of hand and his family landed up in a brothel.”
Rescue Foundation approached the Faraskhana police on Saturday, who then accepted Uike’s complaint and have started searching for his wife and daughter.
Shiny Padiyara, Superintendent of Rescue Foundation said, “It seems trafficking is happening from the villages of Vidarbha to Pune and Mumbai. We have been informed that a man named Yogesh Ingle and his sister Babita Ingle along with three more people are involved in trafficking girls from the region.”
Babita herself has stayed in Budhwar Peth and it is significant that she belongs to Daryapur village.
“We have been informed that Babita and Yogesh have visited the home of the complainant in the past. A whole racket is there behind this incident and it needs to be investigated,” added Padiyara.
Rajendra Chavan, Police Inspector, Faraskhana police station, said, “We have registered the complaint and are doing our best to find the family of the complainant.”
However instead of sending their men in disguise of customer along with Uike Faraskhana police sent him alone to identify the brothel. When asked about this, Chavan said, “We have not sent our man. Once he identifies his wife and daughter, we will send our men to rescue them.”
When contacted, Rashmi Shukla, Pune Police Commissioner, said, “I will appoint a high ranking police official to trace the wife and daughter of the complainant. Our first priority is to find the family. Once we find them, I will consider taking action against those who have not done their job.”
