Madhya Pradesh horror: 11-year-old girl sold by mom for Rs 12L, forced to marry 26-year-old

BHOPAL: In a harrowing case of human trafficking and child abuse, an 11-year-old girl was allegedly sold by her own mother for Rs 2 lakh and forced into marriage with a 26-year-old man in Madhya Pradesh’s Rajgarh district.

The minor endured nearly a year of continuous torture and sexual assault before finally being rescued by the police. The Rajgarh Kotwali police have registered a case against six individuals and arrested five of them, including the victim’s mother.

According to Rajgarh Kotwali Police Station In-Charge, Manju Makhania, the girl was trafficked by her mother and accomplices in exchange for Rs 8 lakh in cash and jewellery worth Rs 4 lakh. Now 12 years old, she has been safely rescued, and five of the six accused are in custody.

Investigators revealed that the family’s situation collapsed rapidly following the death of the girl’s biological father in January 2025. Shortly after, the mother married a man named Pawan from Guna district, who relocated the family to Rajgarh. On February 3, 2025, the mother and stepfather effectively bartered the child to a 26-year-old man under the guise of a marriage arrangement.

The victim was immediately subjected to severe trauma. Police stated that her “husband” raped her on their very first night together, and her stepfather, Pawan, also repeatedly assaulted her. Due to intense fear, constant threats, and immense psychological pressure, the child was kept silent for months.

The exploitation escalated further when Pawan abandoned the mother and fled. The mother subsequently relocated to Rajasthan to marry for a third time, leaving her daughter behind in Rajgarh at another woman’s house to perform forced domestic labor. During this period, yet another predator targeted and repeatedly raped the child.

The systemic abuse finally came to light after the Kotwali police received a confidential tip-off. The girl was rescued, placed in safe custody, and provided professional counseling. Once she regained her confidence, she narrated her full ordeal, prompting multi-location raids. Police confirmed the child has suffered profound physical, mental, and sexual trauma, and investigations are underway to apprehend the remaining absconding suspect and uncover wider trafficking links.