New Delhi: A family dispute at 17 is often a flashpoint for rebellion. But for one teenager from Bihar’s Darbhanga district, a heated argument at home became the catalyst for a descent into a human trafficking nightmare. Seeking an escape, she narrowly avoided being sold in Delhi.The girl left home on March 14, following a domestic spat. On a friend’s advice, she travelled to Delhi, where she was received at New Delhi railway station by her friend’s 52-year-old friend.Police said the accused kept her at his Nehru Vihar residence until April 2, claiming she was there for “domestic work.” During this time, she alleged he had outraged her modesty, made inappropriate gestures and threatened her with defamation if she spoke about it.The ordeal reached a breaking point on April 2 at SN Marg. While he claimed he was meeting a friend to find her a job, the girl reportedly noticed the suspicious environment and felt unsafe, police said. When she saw a women’s patrolling team from the Kamla Market police station, she signalled them for help.“When the team visited a nearby shop to record witness statements, they discovered that the accused was trying to negotiate a deal to sell the girl,” said DCP (Central) Rohit Rajbir Singh.A case was registered under sections of BNS and Pocso Act. Following a medical examination and a hearing before the Child Welfare Committee, the girl was moved to a shelter home, while the accused was apprehended on the spot.
