Daijiworld Media Network – Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 10: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has rescued a minor girl from West Bengal, who was abducted and sold twice for illegal marriage, from Pali district in Rajasthan. Five accused have been arrested in connection with the case.

The girl, missing from Bardhaman since August 9, 2023, was rescued on Friday following a raid by the CBI. Those arrested have been identified as Bharat Kumar, Jagdish Kumar, Mena Dapuben, Rata Ram, and Dilip Kumar.

According to the CBI, the girl was a minor when she went missing, but forged affidavits falsely declared her as an adult for marriage purposes. Investigators suspect her case is linked to a larger human trafficking network.

The case was initially probed by local police and later by CID West Bengal. Following a petition by the girl’s mother, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI on February 16, 2024.

Acting on leads from source information and call detail record analysis, the CBI traced the girl to Pali, Rajasthan. She was rescued from the house of one of the accused on August 8.

Government data tabled in Parliament shows crimes against women have been steadily rising, with 4,45,256 cases recorded in 2022 compared to 3,78,236 in 2018, underscoring growing concerns over women’s safety in the country.