Surat: A swift, multi-state operation led by Surat police led to the rescue of three girls from a train at Itarsi in Madhya Pradesh on Sunday — two days after they went missing — and the arrest of two men for allegedly abducting them.Udhna police, along with the Zone 2 local crime branch (LCB), traced the accused and the girls across railway routes with assistance from the Railway Protection Force (RPF).Deputy commissioner of police Kanan Desai said, “As soon as we came to know about the three missing girls, we registered an abduction complaint and formed teams from Udhna police and Zone 2 LCB. After checking CCTV footage from Patelnagar and areas around it, we learned that that accused — Kalim Abdul Shaikh (22) and Avesh Ahmad Shaikh (24) — had abducted three girls. They were seen in CCTV and the trail led to Surat station. They then took a train to Nagpur. From Nagpur, they took Barauni Rapti Sagar Express. We informed RPF Nagpur who informed RPF Itarsi, and all five were found inside train.”Police said the accused allegedly lured two girls, aged 15 and 14, with promises of marriage and took them along. The third girl, aged 13 and a friend of one of the victims, accompanied them because she feared reprimand at home.The accused, both from UP, were staying in Patelnagar in Udhna, where the girls also lived.Police said further legal action is underway. “As the girls are minors, we have initiated proceedings to add Pocso sections to the abduction case. We are investigating if the girls were sexually abused. More sections may be added based on the investigation.”
