Bihar's daughters are in danger... now the 'dangerous' case has reached the doorstep of the Supreme Court!

New Delhi. The incidents of suspicious disappearance of more than 100 girls that have taken place in the last six months in the border areas of North Bihar along the India-Nepal border have now drawn the attention of the Supreme Court of the country. In view of the sensitivity of this matter, the human rights advocate has sent a letter to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court demanding an immediate hearing. A copy of the case has also been sent to Patna High Court, National Commission for Women and State Commission for Women. In fact, this case is no longer just a local crime, but it exposes the entire chain of threats to human rights, women’s safety and international trafficking.

International smuggling network active

Human rights lawyer SK Jha says that an organized gang of human smugglers is active in the India-Nepal border area adjacent to Motihari district. Their investigation reveals that the missing girls are not only being taken to different parts of Bihar, but there is a possibility of being sold or trafficked to other countries including Nepal, China, Brazil, Saudi Arabia. The advocate has demanded the Supreme Court to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) and track-and-trace it at the national and international level.

Fear and social insecurity, fear in families

These incidents have created fear among the families living in the border areas. People are afraid of sending their daughters out. Advocate Jha and local social workers say that now crime and smuggling are not limited to just one or two areas; Rather, this network is spread throughout North Bihar and across the border, both in the country and abroad. They fear that the laxity of the police and administrative system and low-investigation and lack of monitoring in border areas are keeping smugglers active.

Girls going missing from India-Nepal border

According to information received from sources, from July to November, 10 girls went missing in Raxaul, 3 in Ramgarhwa, 4 in Adapur and a total of 83 (some reports have more than 100) girls from other places. In some cases married women are also involved. Traffickers lure people by posing as ‘girlfriends’ on social media or promise ‘good paying jobs’. Once across the border, the girls are forced into marriage or pushed into red-light areas. Then their journey ends in countries like Nepal, China, Brazil or Saudi Arabia, where they are sold for lakhs and crores. Some are even being used for drug smuggling. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also realized its seriousness and has ordered a high-level inquiry.

Case in Supreme Court, demand for SIT

At the same time, this matter has now reached the Supreme Court and in the petition of advocate SK Jha, not only a speedy hearing has been demanded, but also an appeal has been made to increase security in the border areas, deployment of special investigation team and to stop the transnational network before it gains momentum. Apart from this, the National and State Women’s Commission has also been requested to prepare their report on this matter, provide protection to the victims’ families and ensure safe recovery of the girls who were victims of trafficking. If effective steps are not taken in time, these incidents may increase further.