Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network – Bantwal (EP/SP)
Bantwal, May 14: In a major development in the abduction and suspected trafficking case of a girl from Sarapadi, the police have been successful in tracing the girl and bringing her back to Bantwal.
The 15-year-old girl, daughter of Sarapadi gram Nadai residents the late Jayanta Poojary, who had been missing since March 17, was found from a rented room in Kempewada in Athani taluk, Belgaum district. The local police achieved this breakthrough on Monday May 12, with the help of local police.
However, now the whole episode has taken an interesting turn, with the girl insisting on going back to her alleged abductor.
The personnel of the rural police station here, who have been successful in bringing the girl back to the town, produced her before the judge of the court here on Tuesday. The judge ordered her to be sent to the Ashram at Puttur for a day, and has instructed the girl to be presented again in the court on Wednesday.
Though the police team led by the sub-inspector of the rural station, Nagaraj, found that the girl was staying in a rented accommodation in Athani taluk, it is learnt that Ashok and his accomplice, Ravi, who masterminded the entire abduction episode, could not be found. They reportedly fled to their native place after learning that the police were after them.
The main suspect, Ashok, is said to be married and has two children. He has divorced his wife. The guardians of the girl reportedly came to the police station after coming to know that she was found.
However, sub-inspector, B K Manjaiah, did not allow them to speak to the girl, it is learnt. It is said that the girl, when questioned, asserted that she would go with Ashok.
The incident that had drawn lot of attention for the last two months has reached an interesting stage now. The police are on the lookout for Ashok. It is gathered that the judge permitted the police to hand over the girl to her mother if she is willing to go with her, subject to production of documents and an assurance from the mother that she will extend proper protection to her daughter.
Savitha, aunt of the girl, as well as Dharmaraj, uncle of Ashok, were arrested last week with regard to the case after finding that they had facilitated the girl to elope with Ashok.
The police inquiries have revealed that the girl had gone with Ashok on her own after she fell in love with him. A call made by the girl had by chance gone to Ashok, and thereafter, both became friends and started calling each other. In course of time, the two fell in love with each other.
The girl had reportedly told her aunt, Savita, that she wanted to elope with Ashok, and threatened to commit suicide if she could not marry the latter. Under pressure, Savita helped her niece. It is said that Savita had no idea that she would elope with the boy, as she thought that the girl would come back after having a conversation with her lover. As the girl happens to be a minor, a case of kidnap stands registered against the accused.
The girl, who had left her home on March 17 in the company of her aunt in the guise of buying footwear, had gone missing. The incident had acquired political hue in course of time, giving rise to rumours that the girl had been sold. The police hope to come to get a clear picture about the entire case once Ashok gets arrested. Efforts to nab Ashok are on.