Young girls face sex trafficking risk through WhatsApp groups
The girls coming from other countries are lured with job offers and made to jump the borders illegally.
Hyderabad: Girls in the age group of 13 to 15 years are prone to be victims of sex trafficking. While girls from Bhutan, Bangladesh and other poor neighbouring countries are trafficked to Hyderabad and other cities, girls from Telangana are trafficked to Maharashtra and northern States.
The girls coming from other countries are lured with job offers and made to jump the borders illegally. The operation is through Whatsapp groups.
Trafficking may be for jobs, bonded labour, illegal organ donation or for sex trade. Most of the victims in Hyderabad and other cities found in sex trafficking are from countries like Bangladesh, Burma or Bhutan. They cross the border by illegal means to reach their destinations across India.
The traffickers here are in nexus with the traffickers in those countries communicating through Whatsapp.
“They lure them with offers for jobs in shopping malls promising a monthly pay of Rs 5,000 which is high for their situation. They are even shown pictures of some shopping malls on Whatsapp where they will be working,” a senior Police official said. They target girls in 13-15 year age group who are in ‘huge demand’ in Hyderabad and other cities.
Traffickers lure them by buying clothes and cosmetics.