GRP rescue 13 girls from human traffickers, detain two suspects

GORAKHPUR :In a suspected case of human trafficking, the Government Railway Police (GRP) on Saturday raided a Lucknow-Gorakhpur Intercity coach at Basti railway station and recovered 13 girls including nine minors who were being taken from their native village in Maharajganj.

All the girls belong to village Khajuria under Paniyava police station in Maharajganj police station. Of the 13 girls, nine are aged between 8 to 16 years while the remaining between 18 to 20 years.

The GRP team also detained two suspects who were accompanying the girls. They have been identified as Rajendra, resident of Khajuria village in Maharajganj and Dharamveer, resident of Lakaria village of the same district.

GRP woman escort Meena Kumari spotted the girls and suspects and informed the GRP, following which the team led by inspector Nagendra Yadav

OF THE 13 RESCUED GIRLS, NINE ARE AGED BETWEEN 8 TO 16 YEARS WHILE THE REMAINING BETWEEN 18 TO 20 YEARS

reached Basti railway station and caught them.

The minor girls have been handed to Childline India, which will produce them before child welfare committee; while those above 18 years have been kept at women police station, GRP inspector Nagendra Yadav said.

“Parents of the girls have been informed and called to Basti. They will be questioned about the girls and if they fail to give satisfactory answer then action under Human Trafficking Act will be taken against the alleged traffickers,” said Yadav.

He was referring to the claims of suspects that parents of the girls had sent them with the duo to attend a satsang (religious discourse) in Ludhiana.