Lucknow: The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Lucknow Police rescued a 16-year-old girl, who wasmissing for over a year, and arrested a man accused of luring her away on the false promise of marriage.“The girl, whose disappearance was reported at Madiyaon police station on April 18, 2025, was traced to the Mahmoodabad area of Sitapur district on June 29 after a prolonged investigation involving technical surveillance, digital footprint analysis, human intelligence and coordination with police units in multiple districts,” ADCP (Crime) Kiran Yadav said on Sunday.Police said the case, registered under provisions of the BNS related to the kidnapping of a minor, was later transferred to the AHTU because of its sensitive nature and the need for a specialised investigation.“According to the girl’s statement recorded under Section 180 of the BNSS, the accused, identified as Salman, a resident of Basantpur village under the Baddoopur police station in Barabanki district, allegedly took her away on the promise of marriage. She told investigators that he kept her at his native village with his family and forced her to beg for alms. At the time of her rescue, she was reportedly begging near the Sankata Devi temple in Mahmoodabad,” said Kiran Yadav.Based on the evidence gathered during the investigation, police arrested the accused and produced him before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody.After the rescue, the girl underwent a medical examination, her statement was recorded as per legal procedure, and she was produced before the Child Welfare Committee before being shifted to a govt-run children’s home for care and protection.
