Over the past month, the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) has traced six minor girls, kidnapped from Navi Mumbai. “With the help of technical details like call records and location, we were able to trace six girls and arrest the accused in three cases,” said Senior Police Inspector Anand Chavan.
On May 24, Rishikesh Sahebrao Paikrao allegedly kidnapped a 17-year-old girl from Kharghar. The AHTU traced him to Ranjanpada in Pune. Nitesh Suresh Chaugule (24), was arrested for kidnapping a 15-year-old girl from Uran on June 3. In another case of kidnapping registered with Kharghar police, a 15-year-old girl was traced to Gujarat, but the accused could not be taken into custody.
On June 6, a 16-year-old girl was kidnapped from her house in Koparkhairane and traced to Uttar Pradesh. The accused in this case too could not be nabbed. Another 16-year-old girl, kidnapped within NRI coastal police station limits, was traced to Seawood. In a case filed at Kamothe police station, a 17-year-old girl was kidnapped on June 8. Prakash Ghadge (29), a resident of Sector 4, Ghansoli, had kidnapped her by promising to marry her. “With the help of mobile tracking, we traced the girl to his residence, rescued her and arrested him. Further investigations are being carried by the respective police stations and the accused have been handed over to them,” Mr. Chavan said.
Depending on the victims’ medical reports, sections pertaining to Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) will be added to the charges against the accused, said Mr. Chavan.