4 from Alwar held for kidnapping 13yearold girl from West Bengal

JAIPUR:The anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) of the Rajasthan Police arrested four people from Alwar on Friday for allegedly kidnapping a 13-year-old girl from West Bengal and trying to coerce her into marriage.

According to the police, those arrested are a part of a gang that kidnaps minor girls from various states and later brings them into Rajasthan.

“A missing report was lodged for the 13-year-old girl at the Jibantala police station in South 24 Parganas of West Bengal about a month ago. A few days ago, we received information that the girl was being kept in Malakhera area of Alwar,” said Ram Roop Meena, in-charge of AHTU, Alwar.

Police said based on call details and further information, a raid was conducted early on Friday.

“We rescued the girl. Those arrested have been identified as Imran, Ali Mohammed, Harun and Danny. All four are from the Meo community,” said Meena.

Police said the girl was being kept at the house of one of the accused, who had planned to sell her off to another man for marriage.

“Preliminary investigation suggests that after kidnapping the girl, the men drugged her before bringing her to Rajasthan,” said Meena.

Meena said in recent times several such cases have come up where young girls from other states have been trafficked to Rajasthan and later forced to marry a stranger.

“Many a times the girls are sold to several people. This is the second instance in a month where we had rescued a girl,” said Meena.

Police said a team of West Bengal Police has also come to interrogate those arrested to know more about their involvement in such cases.

“Investigation is on to determine if the accused were part of other such kidnappings,” said Meena.