Mother and child rescued for a second time in West Bengal

​On 22nd January 2025, the police and our team rescued 36 year old Rakhi and her 11 year old daughter Rasi from a house inNorth 24 Parganas ( 24 kms from Kolkata.) They were trafficked from Bangladesh to India in September 2023.  In the days after her rescue, Rakhi showed the police fake identification and ID (all made by Ashok and his contacts) so the police did not file any case. To fight Rakhi’s release we met senior police officials in different departments sharing Rakhi’s case with them.  No action was taken.  We learned later that trafficker Ashok had used his political connections.

Post this rescue attempt we were monitoring Rakhi and her daughter.   In  February 2026, once again we got new intel about Rakhi and Rasi.  While we were ​pursuing different leads,  the trail went cold. Since the state was getting ready for elections and most police personnel were busy, we ​h​ad no option but to wait.

Early July, we  learned that Rakhi and Rasi were  living in a rented house (this house was in the same neighbourhood from the previous location where she was rescued.)  

On 23rd July, we met the Assistant Superintendent of Police.  After going through Rakhi and Rasi’s case, he directed us to ​a local police station who would initiate the rescue.

On 24th July, at 1:58 pm the police ​a​nd our team rescued Rakhi and Rasi from their rented house. Ashok the trafficker was not present.  We shared a letter with the District Social Welfare Office.  They passed an order for Rakhi to be placed in a ​women’s shelter home​ and Rasi ​to be placed in a home for minors as per the Child Welfare Committee’s order.  The mother and daughter were placed in two different homes but in the same premises. 

 Tomorrow Rakhi will be presented in court.  She refuses to turn in trafficker Ashok and refuses to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.  Though claiming to be married to Ashok, both are married to other people and have families with them. Rasi​ will also be produced before the CWC ​tomorrow, who will decide the next steps.

(Read more about Rakhi’s rescue in 2025 here .