By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Three days after a 15-year-old minor girl was reported missing from her home in Pohkseh, police on Saturday brought her back from Barpeta, Assam where the victim claimed that she was taken by her lover, Md Saiful Islam (19).
According to sources, the girl had gone to Assam with Islam, who an employee at a Bakery store at Pohkseh near the girl’s house on July 25. Islam had been working the bakery only about a month ago.
It may be noted that the owner of the bakery did not even have the full details of Md Saiful Islam or his photograph which should have been mandatory. The girl’s relatives had filed a missing report with the police on July 25 not knowing that the girl was taken by him.
Sources said that the girl had informed her parents about her whereabouts through a phone call on the same day she went missing. “However, the next day she rang up her mother and apologized, at the same time expressed her willingness to come back but Islam and his family didn’t allow her,” sources stated.
Reacting to this, the girl’s family informed that East Khasi Hill district police who along with the girl’s brother and mother went to the Islam’s village in Barpeta and brought back the girl on Saturday morning.
Islam was not arrested as the police informed that he was just a 16 year old minor. However, according to the girl, he was 19 years of age.
Police informed that they will record the girl’s statement and send her for medical test after which they proceed further with any arrest.
According to the girl’s elder sister, as soon as the girl reached Barpeta, she was asked to wear a sari as the family told her that any girl who goes to stay there has to wear a sari.
“This was when the girl got scared and it could be the reason why she called us on July 26 and asked sorry,” the sister said adding that they were even told by the police that the place she was taken was a very dangerous place.
“‘We were told that there is nothing bad in wearing a sari, but there were cases earlier where trafficked victims who are minors were made to wear saris as soon as they reached the Brothel at Silchar, so that they will not be noticed that they are minors.