Child traffickers sentenced to life in prison in Kolkata
Summary:
After a 10-year trial, a court in Kolkata has sentenced a married couple to life imprisonment for exploiting Mahati* when she was a child in one of the city’s violent red-light districts.
Mahati was filled with joy at the court’s verdict. She said:
“I believe that not only me but many others who suffered at the hands of these abusers have received justice. Justice prevails eventually, and truth one day does arise.”
Back in April 2014, IJM assisted the Kolkata Police in bringing Mahati and an adult to safety. In one of her statements to the police, Mahati said she was raped repeatedly by this trafficker.
Officials brought Mahati to a safe shelter home, where IJM social workers helped her to overcome her trauma. She returned to her family in 2016, and to this day, she is living in safety.
Meanwhile, the perpetrators were detained by the police, and IJM assisted the investigating officer. The suspects managed to get bail in 2020 and 2023 but were shortly re-arrested in relation to another case.
The traffickers’ lawyer also filed a false case against IJM’s lawyer. These attempts to delay or deny justice were ultimately fruitless, as the court agreed with the well-documented facts of the case and the victim’s brave testimonies.
One IJM staff member describes, “The accused—knowing fully well that he was going to be convicted—requested the judge in open court to sentence him only for 10 years, but the judge convicted both the accused for life.”
In addition to these sentences, the perpetrators were ordered to pay a fine of 160,000 rupees (over £1,300) to Mahati to assist in her ongoing healing. Furthermore, the Court directed the District Legal Services Authority to grant her an additional 500,000 rupees (over £4,000) as compensation.
Mahati shared, “I never expected to receive compensation. I have been suffering from tuberculosis and typhoid for the past few months, so I hope I can pay for good healthcare and leave the rest to my three children.”
The investigating officer expressed her gratitude to IJM for providing essential case laws and resource materials that were instrumental in securing the conviction.
The great work of these local officials demonstrates the impact of IJM’s justice system strengthening programme in Kolkata, which focused on combating commercial sexual exploitation of children from 2006 to 2021.
With these latest convictions, the team has seen 101 traffickers, brothel owners, pimps, and customers convicted for abusing children in the programme—contributing to better protection for children and a significant reduction in the prevalence of sex trafficking in Kolkata.
Learn more about IJM's work to combat child sexual exploitation in South Asia >>
*Pseudonym. Image not representative of survivor.