Jaipur, April 10: A disturbing case of human trafficking has come to light near Jaipur, where an alleged NGO was found running a trafficking operation under the pretense of conducting mass marriages for underprivileged women. Authorities have arrested the organisation’s director, Gayatri Vishwakarma, along with three others, in connection with the case.

According to police, the Gayatri Sarva Samaj Foundation, which had established its office in a farmhouse in Sujanpura village, Bassi (around 30 km from Jaipur), was involved in buying young girls from agents operating in states like Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh. These girls were then allegedly “sold” to men seeking brides for sums ranging from ₹2.5 to ₹5 lakh.

Police said the price was often determined based on the girl’s age, height, and complexion. Many of the victims were minors, and the accused reportedly procured fake Aadhaar cards to falsify their ages and present them as adults. Authorities estimate that the foundation facilitated approximately 1,500 such marriages. Ten prior cases had already been registered against Gayatri.

The Escape That Exposed the Operation

The operation was uncovered when a 16-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh escaped from the farmhouse on Sunday and reported the situation to the police. Her testimony led to a raid at the location, where officers apprehended Gayatri, her associate Hanuman, and two others — Bhagwan Das and Mahendra — who were allegedly present to “buy” the girl.

Local residents said they believed the NGO was arranging marriages for girls from economically weaker backgrounds, but were unaware of the alleged criminal activity, partly because the farmhouse was isolated at the edge of the village. One villager recalled that another girl had attempted to flee four months ago but could not communicate clearly due to a language barrier.

Authorities continue to investigate the extent of the trafficking network and are working to identify and rescue more potential victims.