5 Held For Kidnapping, Trafficking Minor Girl

Visakhapatnam: Five persons were arrested on Sunday for kidnapping and trafficking a 17-year-old girl. The arrested accused were identified as M Mani, K Prasad, Ch Prabhu, G Ganga and M Dharmavathi.

ACP (East) A Narasimha Murthy said the girl had run away from home in January. Noticing that the girl was alone at RTC Complex in Visakhapatnam, Mani took the girl on the pretext of providing food and shelter.

After few days, Mani pushed the girl into flesh trade. Later, Mani along with her gang sold the girl to Chotu, organiser of a brothel house at Yelamanchili in the district for Rs 30,000, he added.

A few days back, the girl had escaped from the clutches of Chotu who was then later admitted to Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) night shelter. The girl narrated the matter to the GVMC staff. Based on the complaint by the caretaker of the shelter, the police investigated the case and arrested the five persons, Murthy said.