Chingsanghoih Guite/ The Hauterfly
Chingsanghoih Guite/ The Hauterfly
For a child, her parents are possibly the two people in the whole wide world that have her best interest at their heart. The people who will protect her against all odds and be the safe haven she needs when she feels threatened. But what happens when the same people, our makers, decided to do what is worst for us instead? A question we have been forced to ask ourselves after the news of an 18-year-old girl allegedly being sold off by her father and paternal relatives has surfaced.
A resident of the Barmer district in Rajasthan, the victim who is a teenager has reported that she was trying to be sold off by none other than her own real father, for reasons that are beyond our comprehension.
Filing a complaint with Narpat Singh, additional superintendent of police in Barmer, the teenage victim alleged that her father and other relatives, including her grandmother were all colluding to sell her off. She even admitted to being harassed by them and shared how if she would resist to their attempts, they would lock her in the house for several days on end.
18-year-old Rajasthan girl says father wanted to sell her off, files complainthttps://t.co/Hq8pbGPQWi
March 01, 2021 at 12:28PM pic.twitter.com/yN3NQeYhLP— GAGAN PREET (@gppreet) March 1, 2021
Her complaint further states that she finally escaped a few days ago when some people visited her house to take her. Although the report doesn’t specify the main reason as to why and where she was being sold, but it is being assumed that this was an attempt to further the women trafficking and bride selling business, which is flourishing in India. A bigger cause of concern for the women, who often end up being sold to the highest bidder, against their will and the law.
The victim also alleged that her father and his family was responsible for killing her mother years ago by setting her on fire. The girl who is currently staying at her maternal house has also said that there are chances her father would file a case of kidnapping against her maternal relatives.
Hukma Ram, the station house officer (SHO) at Gida police station said they have lodged a case under Section 341 (wrongful restraint), 342 (wrongful confinement) and 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and launched a full blown investigation into the matter. It absolutely disheartening to see a parent do this to his own daughter, making us question our faith in humanity altogether.
