UP Police Bust Interstate Child Trafficking Gang, Rescue Two Missing Teenage Girls

Four Arrested, Including a Juvenile; Investigation Underway to Unveil Wider Network​

In a significant crackdown on child trafficking, police in Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, have dismantled an interstate gang and arrested four individuals involved in trafficking teenage girls. Two girls who had been reported missing from the Maniyar area have been successfully rescued during the operation, officials confirmed on Sunday.

Timeline of the Missing Girls' Cases​

Police began investigating after two separate incidents involving teenage girls disappearing under similar circumstances.
On December 24, 17-year-old Kalyatri Prajapati, a student at Maniyar Inter College, left home to attend a practical exam but did not return. Following a complaint lodged by her mother, authorities registered a case against unknown individuals on December 29.
In a similar case on January 13, 16-year-old Anjali Rajbhar, a Class 10 student from the same college, also vanished after leaving for school. Her mother filed a complaint leading to the registration of a case on January 22.

Swift Action Leads to Arrests and Rescues​

Superintendent of Police Omvir Singh confirmed that police successfully traced crucial leads through diligent investigations. Targeted raids conducted on Saturday resulted in the arrest of four suspects:

• Ashok Kumar Kumawat (25) and Kishan Bhati, both residents of Pali district, Rajasthan.
• Mohan Yadav (24) from Gaura Bagahi (Gangapur) village in Maniyar.
• A 17-year-old juvenile accomplice.

During the operation, both missing teenage girls were safely rescued.

Modus Operandi of the Interstate Gang Revealed​

Interrogation of the arrested individuals revealed disturbing details about their extensive trafficking network. The gang primarily targeted teenage girls who were estranged or vulnerable, subsequently selling them in different states under the guise of marriage or domestic employment.
Police seized Rs 35,000 cash from the possession of the accused during their arrest, which authorities believe could be linked to the illicit trafficking operations.

Investigation Continues into Wider Trafficking Network​

SP Omvir Singh emphasized that police investigations are actively ongoing to unravel the full extent and connections of the gang’s operations. Authorities are determined to identify and apprehend other potential associates and beneficiaries of the trafficking racket.