Chennai:
A Mahila Court in Chennai on Friday sentenced a woman to 10 years rigorous imprisonment for pushing her two minor daughters into prostitution. She was awarded a jail term of 10 years each on two counts, and seven years each on three counts. However, the court ordered that she would serve the sentence concurrently for ten years.
The court also awarded the same sentence to two pimps for procuring the minor girls for illicit intercourse. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 35,000 on the woman.
The conviction came after an eight-year-long legal battle. In 2005, the Anti-Trafficking Cell of the Crime Branch- Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) swung into action following a tip-off by a human rights organisation, International Justice Mission. In a trap laid by the team, the woman, along with two pimps, sold her minor daughters, aged 17 and 13, to cops disguised as customers. The trio was arrested; Rs 35,000 was also recovered from the woman.
"The court proceedings were in camera and the girls testified on how their mother, separated from their father, had pushed them into flesh trade in the past" said Ms Gowri Ashokan, Additional Public Prosecutor.
"The two daughters, who in spite of their difficult background they were forced into, have fought back and started to live a dignified life. After the daughters were rescued, IJM took care by providing the girls an environment to develop and grow like normal children, Alice Suganya, Director of Casework, IJM told NDTV.