On June 16, 2009, Shamsunisha, mother of Shama Parween, requested authorities rescue her daughter Shama Parween and register a case against the accused: Mr. Mehndi, Mr. Haider and Chanda, wife of Mr. Haider for her kidnapping with the intention of trafficking. Physical abuse is also suspected. The Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) in Varanasi sent Shamsunisha to the Jaitpura Police Station, where the officers were instructed to investigate the case. Shamsunisha was asked to return to the station the following day, when action would be taken. She returned to the DIG to plead for immediate action, and they once again requested that the Jaitpura Police Station investigate right away.
The next day, June 17, 2009, Shama Parween was recovered by Jaitpura police officers from the location Shamsunisha had directed the officers to however, they failed to register a case against the perpetrators, did not conduct a medical examination of the girl or record her statement before a magistrate.
The Jaitpura Police Station is also accused of corruption: they refused to hold the child in a women‘s police station, instead threatening that unless Shamsunisha compromise with the perpetrators, her daughter would be handed over to her former husband Mr. Abbas, who would sell Shama back to the perpetrators The Station House Officer offered Shamsunisha money for this compromise, which she refused.
On June 18, 2009, the City Magistrate of Varanasi passed an order giving custody of Shama Parween to her father. Shamsunisha has no knowledge of her daughter’s whereabouts.
LRWC requests immediate action to: ensure safety and welfare of Shama Parween, reopen custody hearings, investigate the Jaitpura Police Station’s handling of this case, investigate the criminal activity of the perpetrators.
LRWC ACTION
Letter written August 6, 2009 by Trisha Apland
