Sonagachi: Minor Girl ‘Sold’ Into S*x Trade by Lover in Kolkata, Rescued Within an Hour

Kolkata Police rescued a 16-year-old girl from the Sonagachi red-light area within an hour of receiving a distress call alleging that she had been "sold" to a person after leaving home with her "lover", an officer said on Saturday. Two men, identified as Shafiqul Molla, 20, and Saharul Laskar, 39, were arrested in connection with the case.

The girl, a resident of North 24 Parganas, was rescued from a room in Sonagachi after police received information through a helpline call and an email to the child helpline, PTI reported. Police said the girl had left home with Molla, with whom she was in a relationship, before travelling to Kolkata. West Bengal: Pregnant Tribal Woman Raped on Moving Mahananda Express, Accused Arrested.

Minor Girl Rescued From Sonagachi

"After receiving the information, a team of the Barabazar police station immediately began a search in the Sonagachi area. The girl was rescued within an hour," a senior police officer said. Police contacted the person who had made the distress call and subsequently confirmed the identity of the rescued girl.

According to the police, the girl told investigators that she had left her home with Shafiqul Molla and came to Kolkata. She subsequently alleged that she was sold to Saharul Laskar in Sonagachi. The police have not disclosed further details about how the alleged transaction took place or how long the girl had been in the area before she was rescued. West Bengal Shocker: Woman Rapes Nephew Repeatedly, Makes Videos of S*x Abuse and Blackmails Him in Bongaon; Arrested.

Two Men Arrested

Police identified the two arrested men as Shafiqul Molla, 20, and Saharul Laskar, 39. "Saharul Laskar is a resident of Durga Charan Mitra Street, while Shafiqul Molla is from Garulia in Shyamnagar in North 24 Parganas. Both the accused have been questioned. We are also examining whether any other persons were involved," the officer said.

The investigation is continuing to determine whether additional people were involved in allegedly bringing the minor to Sonagachi.

Police have registered a case under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, the officer said.

The inclusion of the POCSO Act reflects the fact that the rescued girl is a minor. Further investigation will establish the circumstances surrounding her movement from North 24 Parganas to Kolkata and the allegations made against the arrested men.

Police are also examining the information received through the distress call and child helpline as part of the investigation.

The girl has been rescued and the two accused have been arrested, while police are continuing to examine whether others were involved.

The case brings together allegations of trafficking and exploitation involving a minor, with investigators now working to establish the sequence of events leading to the girl's arrival in Sonagachi. Police said both arrested men have been questioned and that further action will depend on the findings of the investigation.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2026 04:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).