§ Major POLEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding 46W the existence in Sind of a traffic in girls kidnapped from the neighbouring territories of Katchh, Kathiawar, Gujrat and Marwar; and whether he can give any information as to the steps that are contemplated with a view to bringing this traffic to an end?
§ Mr. BENNI have ascertained that there is no regular traffic in the kidnapping of girls from the areas mentioned, but that the demand for marriageable girls in Sind is often met by marriage-brokers who obtain low-caste girls—often by purchase from their parents—from these areas, and dispose of them in marriage. The police authorities in Sind and in the States are on the watch to prevent the activities of these persons, but the task of prevention is not easy, as it is usually found that the girls show no desire to leave their husbands and return to their parents.