Varanasi: In a deeply distressing incident that highlights the ongoing challenges of human trafficking and child safety, a 12-year-old minor girl from the Arwal district of Bihar was rescued by the Varanasi police.
The young girl had been allegedly sold by her own mother due to extreme poverty and financial distress. The case came to light in the third week of May 2026, leading to a swift investigation and the subsequent arrest of three individuals, including the victim’s mother.
The Details of the Transaction and Initial Abuse
Varanasi: According to the official reports from the Sarnath police station in Varanasi, the minor girl’s mother entered into a monetary transaction with a 40-year-old widower identified as Lahru Yadav, a resident of the neighboring Chandauli district.
The mother allegedly handed over her daughter in exchange for ₹16,000 in cash and 10 sarees.
Despite strong objections from the girl’s father and maternal uncle, the transaction took place in February 2026. Lahru Yadav took the 12-year-old girl to his residence, where he performed a forced marriage ritual at a local temple.
For nearly four months, the minor was subjected to continuous sexual assault and confinement. Yadav, who had recently acquired funds by selling a piece of land worth ₹17 lakh, reportedly tried to hide his actual age by undergoing expensive grooming and hair styling routines in Delhi prior to the incident.
Abandonment and Secondary Assault in Varanasi
Varanasi: In mid-May 2026, under the pretext of sending the girl back to her parental home, Lahru Yadav brought the minor to the Varanasi Cantt Railway Station and abandoned her there. Alone and distressed, the girl was approached by an auto-rickshaw driver identified as Ravi Verma, a native of Kusmi, Jharkhand, who was operating in Varanasi.
Instead of helping the minor find safety or contacting the authorities, Verma took advantage of her vulnerability. He lured her to his rented accommodation under the pretext of providing assistance and subsequently assaulted her.
Rescue Operations by Sarnath Police
The ordeal came to an end on Tuesday morning, May 19, 2026, when neighbors near Ravi Verma’s rented room in the Sarnath area heard the continuous crying and muffled screams of a young girl. Sensing foul play, local residents immediately alerted the Sarnath police.
A police team raided the location, secured the safety of the minor girl, and detained Verma. During primary interrogation and counseling, the minor narrated the entire sequence of events, exposing the cross-state human trafficking ring involving her mother and Lahru Yadav.
Legal Charges and Police Progress
Following the victim’s official statement and complaint, the Sarnath police registered a formal FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, along with relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to rape, human trafficking, and the illegal buying/selling of a minor.
A coordinated police effort led to the tracking and arrest of all three prime accused:
The Victim’s Mother (for selling a minor into exploitation).
Lahru Yadav (the buyer, for trafficking, forced marriage, and rape).
Ravi Verma (the auto driver, for illegal confinement and rape).
By Saturday, May 23, 2026, all three accused were presented before a local Varanasi court, which remanded them into judicial custody, sending them directly to jail.
Current Updates: Medical Treatment and Rehabilitation
As of the current date in late May 2026, the local administration and the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) of Varanasi have completely taken charge of the survivor’s well-being.
Medical Status: The minor has undergone mandatory medical examinations at a government facility to document the trauma for legal evidence. She is currently receiving necessary medical treatment.
Rehabilitation: The CWC has moved the girl to a secure and confidential state shelter home. Special counselors are working with her to address the profound psychological trauma caused by the multi-month abuse.
Family Contact: The girl’s maternal uncle reached the Sarnath police station after the arrests were made public, cooperating with the police to provide background details on the family’s setup in Bihar.