We first learned about 15 year old Kantara in June 2025. When we tried to get more information about her, we were not able to locate her, it appeared that she was moved to an unknown location.
On 28th August, we got information that Kantara was back in Kolkata and was being sexually exploited in a house in a residential area in Kalighat. We also learned that Kantara would be moved to another location in a few days.
We called the Anti Human Trafficking Network who asked us to come to their office at 4 pm and meet the Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP. We also called the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights, WBCPCR to tell them about Kantara. We also told them that Kantara had to be rescued immediately as she was going to be moved to another brothel. The WBCPCR told us to keep them updated on her case and inform them if the AHTU doesn’t cooperate. We were at the AHTU office at 4 pm, but since the ACP was out on some official work, they asked us to come back the next day.
On 29th August Friday, when we called the AHTU to fix up an appointment to meet the ACP, they asked us not to come to the office as the ACP was not available. We emphasised the importance of initiating a raid right away as Kantara would be moved by 2nd September (Tuesday).
On 30th August, we finally got an appointment with the ACP. We shared all the information on Kantara’s case with him and also the urgency of an immediate raid. We shared that Kantara was also being used as a dancer in different bars and hotels to entice customers. After hearing this, the ACP shared his concerns with us- that Kantara may turn hostile and may have entered prostitution willingly. If the rescue was unsuccessful, it would affect their conviction rate. No amount of pleading was able to change the ACP’s stand.
Later that evening we got a call from the ACP’s office. The ACP wanted to delay the rescue operation and suggested we gather more evidence.
We immediately reached out to the WBCPCR informing them that the AHTU had refused to initiate the rescue operation.
On Monday the chairperson of WBCPCR emailed the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) and requested him to look into the matter and ensure that the rescue operation was initiated by 2nd September, Tuesday. The Chairperson then spoke to the Officer in Charge of the AHTU and told them that the rescue operation needed to take place by the 2nd morning and that our team would be in their office by 11:30 am with the official letter requesting the immediate rescue of Kantara.
On 2nd September we were at the AHTU office and handed them the letter from WBCPCR. They assigned a police team who would be initiating a raid.
As soon as we got information that Kantara was at the brothel, the police and our team left for the brothel.
On 2nd September 4:07 pm Kantara was rescued by the police and our team. Kantara’s elder sister Amita was also at the brothel and the police rescued her as well. As per the new Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita Act, the police made a video recording of the entire rescue operation. The police proceeded to collect incriminating evidence from the brothel. The police completed their investigation at the brothel at 10:26 pm. The police arrested the brothel owner and the pimp who were both present at the brothel. After the police sealed the brothel, Kantara and her sister Amita, the accused and our team proceeded to the police station.
The police filed the First Information Report. The two accused were placed in police custody.
At 2:11 am we accompanied Kantara and Amita for their medical check after which they were both placed in a protective home.
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