The Rajasthan police has rescued six minor girls of the Banchhada community in Jhalawar district and arrested five people – most of whom were related to the girls – for allegedly pushing them into sex work, officers said on Friday (November 6, 2026). Speaking to The Hindu, Jhalawar Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Kumar said that the girls, aged between 12 and 17, were rescued in raids conducted in the Bhawanimandi area on November 3 and that medical and forensic examinations have confirmed sexual exploitation of five of the girls.Two of the girls have also tested positive for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs).Mr.

Kumar said that the action was taken after the police took cognisance of a ‘Ground Zero’ report by The Hindu, which had in August highlighted the problem of children being forced into the sex trade in Madhya Pradesh’s Mandsaur, Neemuch and Ratlam districts.The Banchhada community, a de-notified tribe, is mainly spread across various districts of Madhya Pradesh’s Nimar region and Rajasthan’s Mewar region. The community has long been infamous for being involved in traditional sex work, often by forcing their daughters into sex work from an early age, with their family members and relatives working as pimps.

As per the Jhalawar police, the community has a significant population in about 5-6 villages in the district. Mr.

Kumar said that an SIT headed by Additional SP Ayush Shrotriya was formed for the operation, after which two officers were sent to localities where the community had a presence to gather digital evidence with the help of spy cameras. “After verifying the digital evidence and intelligence inputs, raids were conducted in localities of the community with over 100 personnel – including women personnel in civil dress – and six girls were rescued,” the officer said. Mr.

Kumar said that an FIR under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and Sections 5, 6, 11, 12 and 17 of the The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act has been lodged at Bhawanimandi police station. He said that a separate SIT under Additional SP Bhagchandra Meena has been formed for further investigation into the case.

The arrested accused have been identified as Hira Bai, 34; Dhapu Bai, 35; Rodi Bai, 32; Chhaanmal, 38; and Pappu, 22. They were produced before a court and have been sent to judicial custody.“Along with the rescue work and raids, we are also going to launch a community engagement programme, and the message there will be clear: underage girls will not be allowed to be forced into sex work,” Mr.

Kumar said. Published - November 06, 2026 09:37 pm IST