Human trafficking is still a serious problem in India. Victims often turn to the police for protection. But a shocking case in Pune has questioned the way that these victims are treated. A Bangladeshi woman who approached Faraskhana Police Station looking for help was allegedly returned to the woman’s brothel instead of being rescued. The incident has outraged and exposed a lack of care within the police team.
The victim informed police she was being compelled to work sex work in the Budhwar Peth area of Pune. She wanted to be protected and was hopeful that she would be freed from the brothel. Instead, a woman constable reportedly brought her to a police outpost and then returned her to the brothel operator following suspected talks. This betrayal not only violated the victim’s trust, it risked her life and safety.
Upon learning of the incident, the Pune police department undertook an internal investigation. The inquiry showed a high degree of negligence in duty. The accused constable, who was identified as Manisha Pukale, was suspended by Deputy Commissioner of Police Hrishikesh Rawale. Authorities have said it will be acted upon with renewed diligence and said the case will be treated seriously. “It is seen as putting some kind of accountability in the system, but we need stronger solutions for a culture like this to get back on track.”
The incident has inspired a whole lot of anger and disappointment. Citizens and activists wonder how a trafficked citizen could be returned to her abuser by authorities meant to protect her. Social media conversations show outrage, with many calling for new practices in police responses to trafficking & forced prostitution incidents. Women’s rights organizations have made clear that victims should be respected and provided immediate protection, not forced back into exploitation.
There now is an urgent need for sensitivity and accountability in a policing context. Police must be well trained in how to approach cases of trafficking to rescue victims and try to rehabilitate them. Negligence damages not just individuals, and it undermines public trust in the system of justice. For victims, going to the police shouldn’t be synonymous with betrayal but safety and support.
The Pune case is yet another cautionary tale about the shortcomings of providing adequate protection to victims of human trafficking. Although it’s a move of limited accountability, the constable’s suspension highlights a need for greater police training, monitoring, and victim support, the case says. Trafficking victims, in fact, deserve compassion, safety and justice not negligence which returns them to exploitation.
