Nine-year-old girl kidnapped by impoverished young woman from outside her Andheri East home, is forced to beg at Mahim dargah and then Andheri station; relatives spot her and inform her desperate parents
Imaging/Uday Mohite
Relatives of a nine-year-old girl residing in Andheri East, who had gone missing around 1.30 pm on Monday, were shocked to find the child begging outside the Andheri railway station around 7 pm the same day. The child was found in the company of an individual claiming to be a 17-year-old girl who lives in the same area. The Meghwadi police were subsequently informed about the matter, and they arrested the accused and are verifying her claims.
The child was admitted to the Hindu Hruday Samrat Balasaheb Thackeray Trauma Care Municipal Hospital in Jogeshwari East on Tuesday for tests. The girl’s father, a 47-year-old driver, told mid-day, “My child was playing outside when she suddenly disappeared. We searched the neighbourhood but couldn’t find her. A few hours later, relatives spotted her begging outside Andheri railway station. We rushed at the spot and rescued her. The person she was with resides in our area.”
He added, “My daughter told me that this person lured her outside with chocolates, made her collect plastic bottles, and gave her one rupee after they were sold. When the child said she was hungry and asked to be taken home, she refused and forcibly took her to Mahim Dargah to beg instead.” “Later, the girl was taken to the eastern side of Andheri station and made to beg. My daughter was instructed how to seek alms and told what to say to passers-by. This person also told the child to tell people that she needed money to buy milk.”
“Later, we learnt that in the past few months, this person had forced many children in the area to beg after telling their parents she wanted to play with them. A few kids even told to parents what she was up to, and they scolded her,” the father, who is the complainant in the case, said. A police officer said, “We have arrested the girl who we suspect is 18 years old. We are verifying her details. The accused was produced in the Andheri court, and she is in police custody.”
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
