Shillong, June 1: Two women from Meghalaya were rescued from New Delhi after allegedly being forced to engage in prostitution.
The victims, hailing Barato village in West Jaintia Hills district, were allegedly lured to the national capital with false promises of hotel jobs, according to a statement from Khasi Students’ Union (KSU) Delhi Unit issued on Monday.
According to the statement, the two women made a distress call to the KSU Delhi unit on May 31.
“They alleged that they had been brought to Delhi on the assurance that employment would be arranged for them in a hotel. However, upon reaching Delhi, they were allegedly pressured to engage in prostitution,” the KSU said.
When the women refused, the person, who brought them, allegedly took their phones and told them they could not leave without repaying travel costs.
“The girls further alleged that they were not being allowed to leave until the money spent on their travel was repaid,” the KSU said.
The KSU immediately alerted Delhi Police, who detained the woman in question. She denied the charges during questioning.
“She stated that the girls had voluntarily come to Delhi in search of employment and that she had paid for their travel expenses to assist them in securing jobs,” the KSU said.
“She further denied any involvement in forcing or attempting to force the girls into prostitution.”
Police directed the woman to return the confiscated mobile phones. The two women were then handed over to the KSU Delhi Unit.
“At present, both girls are under the care and protection of the KSU Delhi Unit,” the statement said.
The union said it has arranged for their safe return to Meghalaya. “The family members of one of the girls have already arranged and sent the necessary funds for her airfare, and she is scheduled to return to Meghalaya tomorrow,” it said.
The KSU Delhi Unit cautioned youth against unverified job offers. “The Union urges all job seekers to exercise caution while accepting employment offers from unknown individuals and to verify the authenticity of such opportunities before travelling,” the statement added.
