Pune, Maharashtra: In a brazen incident, eleven Bangladeshi nationals, identified as victims of human trafficking, escaped from a high-security shelter home in Pune after assaulting a staff member. The escape, which occurred at the Rescue Foundation in Hadapsar, has raised serious concerns about the security protocols at such facilities.
According to reports, the incident took place on Saturday. The women, who are part of a larger group of 42 inmates at the shelter home, all rescued in flesh trade cases under the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA), executed a planned escape. The escape plan reportedly involved one of the women feigning illness to request a door be opened, only for several others to overpower and assault the caretaker, Laxmi Kamble, before locking her in a medical room.
The Rescue Foundation shelter home has been housing women rescued from flesh trade operations. Many of these women are Bangladeshi nationals who are awaiting repatriation. Officials have noted that the deportation process can be lengthy, sometimes taking one to two years, which can lead to considerable stress and depression among the residents. This prolonged stay in shelters, coupled with the trauma of their past experiences, may have contributed to the desperate act of escape.
Following the incident, the Kalepadal police were alerted, and a search operation has been launched to trace the missing women. CCTV footage from the vicinity is being reviewed to aid in locating them. The authorities are also investigating the circumstances that led to the escape and the alleged assault on the staffer, with an FIR being lodged against the women involved.
This incident brings to light the challenges faced by authorities in managing shelter homes for victims of human trafficking. In the past, similar issues have arisen concerning the welfare and repatriation of foreign nationals rescued from such situations. In August 2021, a Bangladeshi couple, awaiting passage home after being in jail for illegal entry, were provided refuge in a police station in Pune. More recently, in October 2024, 21 Bangladeshi nationals were arrested in Pune for illegal stay, with many working as labourers. Concerns have also been raised by local politicians about a larger population of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants residing in Pune, potentially creating law and order issues.
The Rescue Foundation has previously been highlighted for overcrowding, with reports from April 2014 indicating that the shelter housed 78 girls, exceeding its capacity of 40, with 53 being Bangladeshi nationals. The lengthy process for issuing repatriation orders and travel permits, often due to what police describe as apathy from Bangladeshi officials, has contributed to women languishing in shelters for extended periods.
The Pune police are actively working to locate the escapees, and the incident underscores the complex issues surrounding human trafficking, victim rehabilitation, and the challenges in managing shelter homes that house vulnerable individuals awaiting repatriation.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
