Karnataka woman sold for Rs1 lakh in Delhi, raped by buyer

A 20-year-old married woman from Karnataka was sold here for Rs1 lakh a week ago by a human trafficking gang and raped by her buyer who kept her at his house, said police on Monday.

The incident was reported to Ghazipur police station in east Delhi January 9 when the victim managed to flee from the clutches of the accused, identified as Zakir, who bought her from a man with whom she had come to Delhi from Karnataka Jan 6 after being promised to provide a job here.

A police officer said that Zakir raped the woman many times.

"Zakir had also beaten her up. He along with his woman associate, Geeta, was contacting some clients in Mumbai and Pune to sell the victim. Meanwhile, the victim managed to give them a slip and reported the matter to police," said the officer.

The case was registered and both the accused were arrested January 11 from Ghazipur area.

"The victim is married and belongs to Bangalore. Following an altercation with her husband, she left her home January 1 and came in contact with a human trafficking gang. The gang members then lured her for a good job in Delhi and sold her to the accused. Her missing complaint is already registered by her husband in Karnataka's Chikballapur police station," said the officer.

"After the deal got fixed, one of the trafficking gang members took the victim to Delhi via train and the victim was handed over to Zakir at Hazrat Nizamuddin railway station where he was already present with Geeta," the officer added.

During questioning, the accused revealed that a few days ago they had sold a 23-year-old woman at Delhi's GB Road brothel No 57.

"This woman was also rescued Monday and the brothel owner, Mumtaz, was arrested," the officer added.