Three minor girls flee home after scolding, rescued 48 hours later

LUCKNOW: Two sisters and their cousin, all aged between 14 and 16 years, were recovered safely from Madiaon area on Wednesday -- nearly 48 hours after their mysterious disappearance from Indira Nagar, Lucknow, said police.

The girls had fled from their house on Monday evening, as they were upset over being scolded by their parents and elder brother for “excessive talking on phone”, said cops.

Their disappearance left the family panicked and sent the police into a tizzy.

Fearing the possibility of a mishap with the minors, amid increasing incidents of crime against women and young girls, the city police had launched a massive search operation.

Inspector of Indira Nagar police station, Mukul Prakash Verma, said, “The girls belong to a lower middle-class background. They work as domestic helps. It was really difficult tracking them, as they were not carrying any cell phone. Surprisingly, they reached Sitapur, pedalling all the way on a bicycle.”

Verma said the girls had to sell off the bicycle to an unknown person, as they were in need of money, after which they reached Shahjahanpur by train.

“Fortunately, they met a good samaritan who counselled them and advised them to return home. He also gave them ₹150 for the train fare,” said the inspector.

“The girls returned to Lucknow on Wednesday morning and were sitting near the Madiaon bus stand where a city police team spotted them and brought them back home,” he said.

Verma said the girls said they were upset after being scolded by their parents and elder brother.

“The brother had even slapped them, as they often remained engaged on phone. The girls were handed over to their family and a woman counseller was engaged to counsel them and their kin, so that such an act was not repeated,” he said.