Man with Bible on rescue mission

KOLKATA: The man who clutches his Bible and has made rescuing minors from brothels througout the country his mission in life, was harassed beyond words on Thursday evening by Kolkata Police. His fault? He wanted assistance to rescue the minor sex workers he had identified at Sonagachi during his three-day stay in the city.
Anson Thomas, a Mumbai Customs officer, was in the city for a hockey tournament.But he had to heed to the call of little girls. The rescue mission,which started around 5.30 pm, saw Thomas, accompanied by armed police personnel, making his way towards Sonagachhi.
While Thomas caught a taxi with a lesser known officer of Burtolla police station, the van followed him from a safe distance. Thomas and the officer approached a minor sex worker to initiate the rescue mission.
Once inside the building, Thomas alerted police from his mobile phone and the girl was rescued and three pimps arrested — all within a half-anhour.
The girl, aged around 12-15, is from Canning. She was brought to Sonagachhi by an unknown person four months ago, allegedly in compliance with her mother. After returning to the police station Thomas wanted to lodge an FIR.
He was refused by the DC (North) and the OC of Burtolla police station. “You can only appear as an witness and not the complainant,� was the stubborn stand of OC Apurva Som Chowdhury though Thomas produced a copy of a similar FIR which he had lodged at the Burtolla police station in 2001 after rescuing a minor girl.
When Thomas asked if the girl will be sent to a juvenile board, the OC said it is up to the court to decide that.
Thomas said: “... because of such officers it is difficult to control crime. They discourage commoners to come forward and make a difference.� “The situation in Sonagachhi is worst in the country. Thirty to 40 per cent of the sex workers are minors. I have met at least 500 to 600 such girls, waiting outside on the pavements. The authorities, here, have no idea about the laws,� Thomas said.
His point was further driven when the OC showed an absolute lack of awareness about PITA or the Prohibition of Illegal Trafficking Act, Section 3456 and 8, under which a complaint is generally lodged in case of such rescues.