Matigara: On 22.03.2021, the Matigara police had received a written complaint of a minor girl who went missing from her home on 19.03.21.
The complainant was her mother, a resident of Paulpara in Matigara, District Darjeeling. The police registered a case at Matigara Police Station under proper sections of the law, taking note that the girl was 15 years old.
During the course of the probe, the investigating officer questioned the complainant and various other persons, including friends and relatives of the girl, whereupon it became evident that the girl was last seen in the evening of 19.03.2021 near the Matigara tea garden. The officer also soon came to know that the girl had been forcibly taken to someplace in Bihar by some individuals.
On 15.07.21, the Matigara police received a specific input about some persons hiding the girl at a place in Paulpara and that she would be soon sent to some unknown location. Immediately, a police team including lady personnel raided the place and recovered the girl who was missing for the past four months.
The police found out that the main kidnappers were Raju Sha and Abhishek Kumar, and along with their partners, they had taken the girl to Dimuria under Mohammadpur thana in Gopalgaunj district, Bihar for sexually exploiting her as well as to force her to perform vulgar dances before the public. They threatened her with dire consequences if she refused to abide by their orders.
Thereafter, more raids ensued leading to the arrest of Raju Sha (30), s/o Late Jagdish Sha of Matigara Tumbajote (Near West Point School), who is a permanent resident of Dimuria in Bihar’s Gopalgaunj district; and Abhishek Kumar (23), s/o Hemanth Mishra of Gopalgaunj under Manjha thana, Gopalgaunj district, Bihar. The police have seized articles such as waistbands, imitation bangles, Ghagras, make-up kits, and a Samsung mobile phone from their possession.
As per the directive of the chairperson, CWC Darjeeling, the girl is presently in the protective custody of a designated shelter home.
The two arrested persons were produced before the Ld. ACJM, Siliguri on 16/07/21, and have been taken into Police Custody for 10 days, for further investigation.
People who try to do trafficking of children specifically and persons generally shall not be spared at all. All gangs shall be brought to books of law.
Our, Reporter in Chief
R. Manoj Kumar Sharma
Siliguri City, West Bengal