By Firstdespatch Desk Jul 02, 2026
Agartala, July 2 (FD) The rescue of three minor girls from Gujarat by Tripura Police has taken a new turn, with investigators probing whether the teenagers were lured by false promises of employment or targeted by an organised human trafficking network after the girls reportedly expressed a desire to remain in Gujarat even after being traced.
The three girls, aged 15, 16 and 16, all residents of Niamjoy Para under Ganganagar Police Station in Dhalai district, were rescued within 48 hours of their disappearance through a coordinated operation involving Tripura Police and Gujarat Police.
According to the preliminary investigation, the girls left their homes on Monday morning with a local youth, identified as Mukesh Reang, who allegedly promised them jobs in Gujarat. After the families reported them missing, Ganganagar Police registered a kidnapping case.
Using mobile phone tracking and live location-based services, investigators traced the group's journey from Agartala to Kolkata by air and then onwards to Ahmedabad. Acting on real-time inputs shared by Tripura Police, officers of Adalaj Police Station in Gujarat located the accused and rescued the girls shortly after they arrived.
During questioning, however, the girls reportedly told police they wished to stay in Gujarat and work instead of returning to Tripura. Officials also arranged video calls with their families, during which the girls allegedly reiterated their desire to remain there.
Investigators said the girls' reluctance to return does not rule out the possibility of an offence. Rather, it has prompted a deeper inquiry into whether they were influenced or misled by promises of lucrative employment. Police noted that traffickers frequently target adolescents from economically vulnerable backgrounds by offering attractive jobs in distant states.
Another significant finding during the preliminary investigation is that none of the three girls was attending school. Investigators believe that dropping out of school, coupled with financial hardship, may have increased their vulnerability to such inducements. EOM
A Tripura Police team led by the Investigating Officer has already reached Gujarat to complete legal formalities and secure transit remand for the accused before bringing both him and the rescued girls back to Tripura.
Police said detailed statements will be recorded after their return to determine whether the girls knowingly accepted employment offers or were deceived during the recruitment process. Investigators are also examining digital evidence, travel records and communication links to ascertain whether the accused acted alone or as part of a larger trafficking network.
Officials said the investigation has now expanded beyond the initial kidnapping case, with all possible angles, including organised human trafficking, under scrutiny. The successful rescue was made possible through close coordination between Tripura Police and Gujarat Police, particularly officers of Ahmedabad Airport Police Station and Adalaj Police Station. FD JK