Three minors rescued in Arunachal, Assam-bound trafficking bid foiled, juvenile held

Itanagar, Apr 2: The Arunachal Pradesh police rescued three minor girls, who were suspected of being trafficked to neighbouring Assam, and nabbed a juvenile boy in this connection.

It is alleged that the girls, aged 12, 13 and 15 years, met the boy on social media and fled their homes after being lured by him on some pretext.

A joint team of police and CRPF rescued the girls in the early hours of March 31 and detained a boy, around 16 years old, in connection with the case.

The SP said preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had contacted the victims through social media and allegedly lured them away.

The girls were kept at a paying guest accommodation for a night before being taken to Harmuti on a hired scooter, where they were confined.

Harmuti is in Lakhimpur district of Assam, while Banderdewa is in Papum Pare district.

They were handed over to their family members, who are residents of Jollang area in Papum Pare district on the outskirts of Itanagar, Itanagar Superintendent of Police (SP) Jummar Basar said.

Complaints were lodged with the Women Police Station after the girls went missing on March 30.

Police launched a search operation across the capital region, analysing CCTV footage under the Smart City surveillance system, Basar said on Wednesday.

Based on technical inputs and human intelligence, the minors were traced to the Harmuti-Banderdewa area near the Assam-Arunachal border.

Police said the victims indicated they were likely to be taken to Guwahati, but timely intervention prevented further movement.

A case has been registered under various clauses of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the officer said, adding that the girls have undergone medical examination and were reunited with their families.

Police have urged parents to monitor children's online activities.

PTI