Jaipur Police Bust Inter-State Bride Trafficking Racket, Arrest Fugitive Suspect

Jaipur: Jaipur police have apprehended a fugitive suspect involved in an inter-state bride trafficking racket, marking a major breakthrough in a case that spans multiple states. The Crime Branch of Rajasthan Police arrested Bhanwarlal Sharma on Wednesday. He is accused of running a network that trafficked women and girls from West Bengal, Assam, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, and Jharkhand to Rajasthan for forced marriages and extortion.

Targeting Vulnerable Families
Investigation revealed that Sharma and his associates targeted girls from economically weaker families under the pretext of offering jobs or better marriage prospects. These girls were brought to Rajasthan, where they were forcibly married to unmarried men in border districts for large sums of money.

Extortion After Marriage
According to Jaipur police, shortly after these forced marriages, the racket’s members allegedly threatened the men with fabricated sexual assault cases to extort money. This operation, police believe, has been running for several years with a wide network linking different districts.

Criminal Record Since 2005
Police records indicate that Bhanwarlal Sharma has a criminal history spanning nearly two decades. Since 2005, multiple cases have been registered against him, including kidnapping, extortion, fraud, and violations under the Arms Act, in police stations across Jaipur and Ajmer.

Investigation Continues
The Crime Branch is now interrogating Sharma to identify other members of the gang and gather information about the victims. Authorities have stated that further arrests are likely, and investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the racket, including the number of women trafficked and individuals defrauded.