Five girls allegedly lured in name of love and trafficked, Dahanu calls for a bandh

A controversy has erupted in the border regions of Gujarat and Maharashtra after allegations surfaced of an international women trafficking network operating through romantic relationships. 

Following similar claims from Valsad district, reports of five Hindu and Jain girls allegedly being lured, converted and sent abroad from the Bordi, Gholvad, and Dahanu areas of Maharashtra have triggered widespread anger among members of the Hindu community.

In protest against the alleged incidents, several Hindu organisations including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) called for a bandh in Dahanu, Bordi, and Gholvad on Tuesday. The shutdown received a significant response, with markets remaining closed across several areas.

According to community leaders, multiple cases have recently come to light in Valsad district in which girls from Hindu and Jain families were allegedly trapped in relationships, converted and later sent overseas. 

Following these allegations, Hindu organisations submitted a memorandum to the district police chief demanding a high-level investigation into what they described as an international trafficking conspiracy.

The complaint filed on June 8 by representatives of the Hindu and Jain communities alleges that girls from Sanjan village in Umargam taluka and nearby areas are being specifically targeted as part of a planned operation. 

The complainants claim that, due to stricter laws governing conversion and marriage in Gujarat, the accused allegedly take the women to neighboring areas of Maharashtra, including Palghar and Dahanu, where marriages are arranged.

The complaint further alleges that a new pattern has emerged in which visas and passports are arranged within a short period and the women are subsequently sent abroad, including to countries such as the United Kingdom.

In one of the reported cases, it has also been alleged that cash and jewellery were taken from the girl's family home before she left the country.

Police authorities have received the complaint, while community leaders continue to demand a detailed investigation into the allegations. No official findings confirming the claims have been announced so far.