Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Girl, 16, Rescued From Kolkata's Red-Light Area After Being Sold
A teenage girl ran away from her home with a boy she was dating and went to a big city.
Once there, she says the boy sold her to another man in an area of the city known as a red-light district.
Someone called the police and a children's helpline to say she needed help.
Police searched quickly and found the girl safe within one hour.
Two men were arrested for what happened to her.
One is the boy she had run away with, and the other is the man she was sold to.
Police checked with the person who made the call to make sure they had found the right girl.
A case has been registered under several laws that protect children.
Police are still checking whether anyone else was involved in the plan.
A 16-year-old girl from North 24 Parganas was rescued from a room in Kolkata's Sonagachi red-light area within an hour of a distress call.
The girl told police she had run away from home with her lover, Shafiqul Molla (20), who then 'sold' her to Saharul Laskar (39).
Both Shafiqul Molla and Saharul Laskar were arrested; Laskar is a resident of Durga Charan Mitra Street, while Molla is from Garulia in Shyamnagar, North 24 Parganas.
Police contacted the person who made the distress call and confirmed the rescued girl's identity.
A case was registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
- Who
- A 16-year-old girl from North 24 Parganas; accused Shafiqul Molla (20) and Saharul Laskar (39); officers of Barabazar police station in Kolkata.
- What
- The girl was rescued from a room in the Sonagachi red-light area within an hour of a distress call, after allegedly being 'sold' by her lover; two men were arrested and a case was registered.
- When
- On Saturday, when police announced the rescue, about an hour after the distress call was received.
- Where
- Kolkata's Sonagachi red-light area; the girl's home was in North 24 Parganas.
- Why
- The girl allegedly ran away from home with her lover, Shafiqul Molla, who then sold her to Saharul Laskar in Sonagachi.
- Victim
- 16-year-old girl from North 24 Parganas
- Rescue location
- Room in Sonagachi red-light area, Kolkata
- Time of rescue
- Within one hour of distress call
- Accused
- Shafiqul Molla (20) and Saharul Laskar (39)
- Police station
- Barabazar police station, Kolkata
- Laws invoked
- Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita; POCSO Act; Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956
- Ongoing probe
- Police checking whether other persons were involved