A police team in Nalanda district arrested four members of an alleged inter-state human trafficking network and rescued three minor girls who were on the verge of being sold, officials said.
The accused — two women and two men — were apprehended following coordinated operations in Bihar and Rajasthan. Two suspects were arrested in Rajasthan, while the remaining two, including a woman, were held in Nalanda.
Missing girls traced to Rajasthan
According to Sadar DSP-2 Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal, the case began after two minor cousins, aged 13 and 14years respectively, went missing from a village in Rahui police station area on April 9. A formal complaint was lodged the following day, prompting the formation of a special investigation team.
“During technical and human intelligence-based investigation, we found that both girls were in Bikaner, Rajasthan. A police team reached there and, with the help of local authorities, rescued them safely,” Jaiswal said.
The operation also led to the arrest of a couple allegedly involved in purchasing the girls.
Trafficking network uncovered
Interrogation of the arrested couple revealed that they had bought the girls for Rs three lakh. Based on their disclosures, police conducted further raids in Rajgir, arresting a woman from Noorsarai believed to be a key trafficker, along with her associate from Manpur in Gaya district.
During the operation, police also rescued another minor girl from Raipur district in Chhattisgarh.
Investigators said the network operated across states, with links extending to Rajasthan, where victims were allegedly sold under the pretext of marriage.
Victims lured with false promises
Police said traffickers targeted young girls, luring them with promises of money and a better life before selling them for large sums.
In statements to investigators, one of the accused admitted to purchasing a girl for Rs. 1.34 lakh, while two others were bought for Rs three lakh and later sold off. The accused also confessed to previously selling girls for amounts ranging between Rs one lakh and Rs. 1.5 lakh.
Officials added that buyers in Rajasthan would acquire girls at lower prices and then exploit them by arranging forced marriages for profit.
Ongoing investigation
All rescued girls have been produced before a court and handed over to the Child Welfare Committee after informing their families. Police said further investigation is underway to identify and arrest other members of the trafficking network.
