Kolkata couple sentenced to life for trafficking and exploiting minor girls

A Kolkata court has sentenced Sekhar Samanta (42) and Pratima Samanta (38) to life imprisonment after they were convicted in a human trafficking and sexual exploitation case involving two minor girls. The couple was found guilty of trafficking the victims under the false pretext of offering them jobs, only to exploit them sexually and forcefully confine them in their home. This conviction follows a detailed investigation by the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the Detective Department.

The case dates back to April 30, 2014, when AHTU received information about a minor girl found alone at a tea shop on D.C. Mitra Street, under Burtolla Police Station. The victim revealed that she had been trafficked by the Samantas and was brought to their rented house in Ghasiara, South 24 Parganas, where she was kept captive for a month. The victim stated that she was subjected to repeated sexual abuse by Sekhar Samanta, with Pratima Samanta aiding the abuse. The victim also disclosed that another minor girl was still confined in the same location. Based on this information, a raid was conducted on May 1, 2014.

During the raid, AHTU officers rescued a second victim, an adult girl who had also been trafficked and exploited. The couple’s trafficking operation was confirmed to involve procuring girls for sexual exploitation. The investigation further revealed that the Samantas were involved in running a network that exploited vulnerable women for the flesh trade. The victims were provided with medical and psychological care after being rescued.

The case was registered at Burtolla Police Station under FIR No. 175/2014, and the investigation was led by Inspector Tandrima Gupta. The charges against the Samantas included sections of the Indian Penal Code related to kidnapping, trafficking, and sexual assault, as well as sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. After a thorough trial, the court convicted the Samantas under these sections, leading to their life sentences. The case was filed under Special Case No. 13 of 2014, and the court’s ruling underscored the seriousness of human trafficking and sexual exploitation crimes.