Mounesh Vishwakarma
Daijiworld Media Network - Bantwal (SP)

Bantwal, Mar 10: The police have traced the minor girl who had gone missing from her home in Karopady, Kanyana village in the taluk a few days back.

She was found in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on the night of Sunday March 8. However, her alleged kidnapper, identified as Iqbal alias Ikku from Poyyagadde in Kanyana village succeeded in giving the police a slip.

File photo of the accused Iqbal

The minor girl had left home from college, but had mysteriously disappeared without a trace. The family of the girl had filed a missing complaint with Vittal police station. The police, during the course of investigation, got to know that the girl was accompanied by Iqbal. As the girl happens to be a minor, the missing complaint was converted into kidnap.

In the meanwhile, the staff of the hotel in Thiruvananthapuram where the duo stayed, grew suspicious about the couple and questioned them. The two disclosed their true identities. They were then confined and the hotel staff conveyed information to Vittal police. It is learnt that by the time the police reached the hotel, Iqbal had succeeded in escaping.

The girl was brought back and produced before the police circle inspector here on the evening of Monday March 9. The girl, it is learnt, told the police that the accused took her to Peruvayi by auto rickshaw, and then by bus to Uppala and Kasargod. The journey between Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram was covered by train, she revealed. Circle inspector, Belliappa, said that on the face of it, this appears to be a case of mutual love.

After obtaining the girl's statement and booking Iqbal under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, the police have now begun their hunt for the accused. The assistant superintendent of police here, Rahul Kumar, has been guiding the investigation. The team which went to Thiruvananthapuram was led by in-charge police sub-inspector of Vittal, Chandrashekharaiah.