PANIPAT: A local woman, who had forced a poor girl from West Bengal into flesh trade and later sold her for Rs 10,000 to a local farmer, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment by additional sessions judge Vani Gopal Sharma on Thursday.

Anita, who lives in hutments in Sector 25, was found guilty of wrongful confinement, abduction and compelling the girl to marry.

Driven by poverty, 20-year-old girl Pinky ran away from her house in Kolkata and reached Panipat railway station. There she met Anita, who, after sympathizing with her, took her home. There she pushed her into flesh trade and kept her in illegal confinement for two months. Later, the girl was sold to Karan Singh, a resident of Chhajpur village in the district, for Rs 10,000.

However, the girl managed to escape from captivity and reached the police station, where a case was registered against Anita on March 12, 2010. Soon, the girl went back to her home in Kolkata and came here only to depose before the court.

After collecting evidence in the case, police moved a challan in the court and during hearings, Anita was found guilty of keeping Pinky in illegal confinement and compelling her to marry Karan Singh. Pronouncing the verdict, judge Vani Gopal Sharma said there was sufficient evidence on record to prove the accused guilty and sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, besides a fine of Rs 1,500.