While the cases filed against Guriya have not been resolved fully, on sunday(13/11/05) Guriya activists worked with the police to rescue of six more minor girls. Ajeet and Manju also accompanied the police to the rescue point.

After a similar attempt on 24th October, one that police had not supported, police had actually filed charges against Guriya activists and students from BHU who had joined the effort. A large dharna was organized by Arundhati Dhuru and Bobby Ramakant in Lucknow – the capital of UP – to protest against these charges by the police on the social activists while pimps and brothel owners have been allowed to escape.

On November 8th, PVCHR reported that according to the latest information received, after the rescue operation, the Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee, Ms Rollee Singh and another member, Mr. Rajiv Singh, went to the Maduhadih Police Station to speak to the minor girls but were not allowed to do so by the Superintendent of Police, Varanasi.

The rescued girls were however sent for a medical examination to the Government Hospital. Kabir Chaura, Varanasi and were then taken to the Women's Police Station. Subsequently, those girls found to be minors (below the age of 18) were produced before the Chairperson, Child Welfare Committee on the intervention of the District Magistrate while those above that age (majors) were produced before the Magistrate.

A fact-finding team consisting of representatives from various organizations in Varanasi visited the girls in the state protection home and later told the police that two of the rescued girls had been taken away by the police. They also alleged that one of the main traffickers, Rahmat Ali had managed to escape with the help of the police.

Another fact-finding team constituted by the State Women's Commission, Uttar Pradesh also visited Varanasi on 26 October. However, this team allegedly made the observation that there was no forced prostitution in Varanasi. This report has called for a huge outcry and criticism from the human rights groups and the media.

On November 9th the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) called for the protection of underage girls and rehabilitation of those over 18 allegedly taken from forced prostitution in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh.

"A medical board comprising expert doctors should be constituted to determine the correct age of the girls and those that are found to be adults should not be sent to jails but to government protection homes," the Hong Kong-based rights group said in an appeal.

"Civil-society organisations should be allowed to meet the rescued girls and, with their help, a long term rehabilitation plan should be drawn up comprising the basic requirements of diet, health, counseling, and educational and vocational facilities."

"The government should allocate adequate resources for their rehabilitation and repatriation into society."

For more information please contact Bobby Ramakant, 9839073355 or Arundhati Dhuru, 9415022772.

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