From minors to 18 year-olds, girls in Rajasthan are allegedly being sold-off to settle debts.
Hindi Daily Dainik Bhaskar in a detailed investigation reported that stamp paper agreements are being made to auction off girls from families that fail to repay loans.
The report has named cities like Bhilwara and Ajmer where girls are being sold via agreements.
Taking cognisance of the said report, National Human Rights Commission on October 27 issued a notice to Rajasthan government to inspect the affected areas, and submit a report in not later than three months.
National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma has now claimed that similar incidents have been reported from Sawai Madhopur too.
As per the newspaper report, families choose caste council over police to repay loans, which recovers the money through auctions.
Like in one of the instances, a man first sold off his sisters and then 12 year-old daughter after failing to repay loan worth Rs 15 lakhs.
In another case a man sold off his daughter for Rs 6 lakhs after failing to repay the money he borrowed for his wife's treatment.
The report also claimed that when daughters are not sold, their mothers are raped.
Also watch: Amid girls' 'auction' reports in Rajasthan, BSP chief Mayawati attacks Priyanka Gandhi