A 17-year-old girl who had gone missing from Dumaria village in West Bengal on August 5 was rescued in Hathras after the arrest of two kidnappers here on Tuesday.

A gang in West Bengal had sold her to a man, Sanju Singh, 28 in Hathras for Rs. 40,000. He had married her forcibly. Police said this gang was active in selling girls on the pretext of getting them married.

Acting on the FIR of kidnapping lodged by the victim’s mother, the Bengal police raided many places in the city on Tuesday and arrested the two accused. However, Sanju was absconding.

The girl’s family members tried to trace her but failed. After some time, they received a phone call from the victim who told them about the problem she was in.

After the victim’s mother lodged an FIR against unknown persons in Harischandra police station (W Bengal) on August 27 stating that her daughter had been kidnapped and sold, the police arrested a woman, Sundari and a man, Jamir on August 31 and took them on remand.

Sub-inspector Kajal Chatterji of Harishchandra police station came to Hathras along with two women constables. After searching for the missing girl for four days, they contacted the Kotwali Sadar police and began the search operation.

Police said the victim was living with Sanju Singh of Surangpura area. Though cops found the girl, Sanju managed to flee. He is working in a local jam factory.

The victim told police that her uncle Umesh had brought her to Harishchandra railway station on August 5 and sent her with a youth Lalchand. One woman was also with him at that time. Lalchand then sold her to Sanju in Hathras for Rs. 40,000.

The victim alleged that Sanju used to lock her while going for work. One day, she found an opportunity and informed her family members through the cell phone.

Kajal Chatterjee, S-I, Harishchandra police station said, “The police had arrested Jamir of Raghunathganj and Sundari Paharia of Pakur (Jharkhand).”

The police had come to Hathras after taking remand of Sundari.

HT