Bihar Police Rescue Minors from Sitamarhi Red-Light Area; Rani Khatun Named as Key Accused

Sitamarhi, December 18, 2025: In a shocking development from Bihar’s Sitamarhi district, police have rescued four minor girls who were being forced into the sex trade in the local red-light area. The revelations made by the rescued girls have exposed the involvement of the notorious “super boss” of the area, Rani Khatun.

According to police reports, the minors disclosed that Rani Khatun, wife of Manzoor Khalifa, has long been operating the illegal business, compelling girls into sex work and keeping all the earnings for herself. The girls claimed they were not given even a fraction of the money they earned.

Police Action and FIR
Following the disclosures, a First Information Report (FIR) was filed by Sanjay Prasad Gupta, investigating officer from Rescue Foundation, New Delhi. The FIR names Rani Khatun and another female agent, Manju Khatun, as accused. During searches at their residences, police recovered three minor girls along with cigarettes and other objectionable items from Rani’s house, and one minor from Manju Khatun’s home. Both women were taken into judicial custody on Wednesday.

History of Exploitation
Sitamarhi’s red-light area has long been linked to Manzoor Khalifa and Rani Khatun. Previous police raids have repeatedly found minors in their custody, often brought in through networks of brokers from other districts. Disturbingly, Manzoor has also forced his own daughter into the illegal trade, although two of his other daughters have stayed away from it.

Earlier raids had rescued girls from Assam, Katihar, and Patna. In one case, a minor from Darbhanga was sold in Sitamarhi for ₹9 lakh by her boyfriend, handed over to Manzoor, Raja Khalifa, Manzoor Khalifa, Ramzan Khalifa, and Anchal Devi. Past operations also revealed the complicity of three women in trafficking girls from West Bengal.

Ongoing Investigation
Police continue to question the rescued minors for further details to dismantle the trafficking network. Authorities stress the urgency of strict action against those exploiting children and minors in the red-light district.