The team is on its way back from the Raj Mahal Circus. Six girls were freed in the end and the team had no choice but to give up in the face of the brick wall that they met from the local police, the Labour Department at State Government, everyone that they approached. Sadly we'll just have to wait until the circus moves to territory that is more familiar to our partner, ChildLine India, where we can count on support from the authorities and local supporters.
Often circuses retain performers' paltry pay (maybe a few dollars a month) until the completion of their (illegal) contracts - this stops them running away and the parents from trying to retrieve their daughters prematurely. As a final insult The Raj Mahal has held onto the pay owed to the releasees for their last six years of service - presumably because of some kind of breach of contract. So this really has been slave labour for those miserable souls. We'll be fighting a legal battle to get that reimbursed to the girls in full.
Phateh Khan, the circus owner, has won this round but he won't win the bout.
