WOMAN HELD FOR TRYING TO SELL DAUGHTER

THANE: A 32-year-old woman was arrested on Thursday for forcing her minor daughter into flesh trade. She was arrested from a restaurant where she had gone to sell her 16-year-old daughter.

The woman has three daughters and has been married thrice. He first husband died and her other two husbands left her.

On Thursday, the anti-human trafficking cell, Thane, got a tipoff and formed a team to arrest her. The police raided Pappu Da Dhaba, at Louiswadi.

Police sub-inspector Kalyani Patil from anti-human trafficking cell, Thane said, “The woman has been running a flesh trade racket for the past couple of years. She forced her daughter into it two years ago to earn easy money. She lives at Gautam Nagar in Govandi. She came to Thane to sell her daughter.”

It was found during investigation that the girl was to be sold for Rs50,000 but the woman had not found a buyer. A senior police inspector from Wagale Estate police station said, “The woman wanted money for her sister’s daughter wedding.”

The police recovered Rs5,000 and two mobile phones from the woman. The woman has been booked under sections of Indian Penal Code and the prevention of Children from Sexual Offences Act 2012 and Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. THANE: A murder accused, who had been absconding for two months, was arrested from Uttar Pradesh on Thursday.

Swamidayal Verma, 47, had fled to his native place after committing the crime.

Verma had given Rs500 to Krupashankar Pathak, 24. Both were daily wage labourers and were neighbours.

On May 26, Verma asked Pathak for the money. There was a heated argument and Verma hit Pathak with an iron rod. Pathak succumbed to his injuries.

The police suspected Verma to be the accused as he was not to be seen after the crime.

Senior police inspector from Thane crime branch unit 1 Nitin Thackeray said: “A case was lodged with the Kalwa police station against an unknown person. Later, we came to know about the argument about the money. After gathering all evidence, we went to UP and arrested Verma.”

Verma has been remanded in police custody till August 24.