Sex worker rescued & sent to her home by train: Joint effort of Dream Celebration & Cachar Police

June 7: The Covid-19 pandemic has left sex workers dealing with serious mental health issues with their livelihood severely impacted with each surge in coronavirus cases. They do not have money to pay rent and ensure food supplies for the entire month. Over and above, with no clients at all during the pandemic, these sex workers are treated as burden by the brothel owners. Such a heart wrenching incident was reported from Silchar on Saturday night.

A girl was seen roaming around at Silchar Railway Station on Saturday night. On noticing her, the information was conveyed to NGO Dream Celebration, who works on issues of women empowerment. Founder President of the NGO Nikita Banik along with her team members immediately rushed to Silchar Railway Station and also contacted with Tarapur Police.

Informing about the incident, Nikita Banik said, “After conversation with the female, we came to know that she was engaged as a sex worker in the red light area of Silchar. Due to the pandemic, she was left with no income and was passing her days in great misery. Unable to earn anything during this crisis phase, the brothel owner also physically tortured her. Somehow, she managed to escape and came to Silchar Railway Station. We then called SP Cachar and OC Silchar Sadar Police Station, who offered immense help.”

With active cooperation of Cachar Police, the girl was taken to a shelter home where she stayed for the night. Meanwhile, the girl also stated that she was from Narangi in Guwahati and was eager to return back to her house. “Due to compelling reasons, the girl came into prostitution around 5 years ago. Today, we are happy to be able to rescue her. I am thankful to the Co-founder of Dream Celebration Sonali Banik, team members- Sunny Deb and Nipu Dhar and ofcourse Cachar Police,” said Nikita Banik.

On 7 June, Dream Foundation made arrangement for her travel to her hometown Narangi by train. Expressing thanks to those who rescued her, she boarded the train at Silchar Railway Station on Monday morning. The members of Dream Foundation and officials of Cachar Police went to the station to bid her adieu.