JAIPUR: The issue of aged bachelors buying women from human trafficking gangs and then getting duped came to the fore once again in the state when the police arrested a 35-year-old woman and her three accomplices in Bundi on Monday. Police said the woman had duped at least 10 bachelors in various parts of the country by disappearing with cash and jewellery a few days after marrying them. In most cases, the victims bought the woman from a human trafficking gang.

SP, Bundi, Priti Chandra told TOI that the police have arrested one Savitri, a resident of Akola in Maharashtra and three others -- Shivraj, Bheru Lal and Lakhveer Singh -- from Patan town in Bundi.

CO, Patan, Phool Chand Yadav said: "The three men had sold Savitri to one 42-year-old Bihari Lal Meghwal, a resident of Patan town for Rs 55,000 about a week ago."

Bihari Lal, who could not find a bride in the local area, had come in contact with this human trafficking gang when his work as a labourer took him to Maharashtra. "He was introduced to Savitri there. The three men left her at his place a week ago and came back on Sunday saying they would take her back," said the officer. The three men had come to his house when Bihari Lal realized that the woman was to disappear from his house and did not allow her to leave.

He added that the trio threatened to lodge fake FIRs against him. "They threatened that they would implicate him in a rape and kidnap case if he did not let Savitri go. It was followed by a minor scuffle among them following which police rushed to his house," said the officer.

On reaching his house, police realized that Bihari Lal had been duped by a human-trafficking gang. Police said that buying girls for marriage is a rampant practice in the area due to skewed sex ratio.

"The woman and three others were arrested when Bihari Lal lodged an FIR. The four were produced in a court on Monday which sent them to police custody," said the officer.

He added that the woman had duped at least 10 men across the country in the recent past. "She would disappear a few days after the marriage, in some cases with cash and jewellery," said the officer. TOI