Siliguri, 01st October: A minor girl and a young woman who went missing from the Pokai Jote Green Park area of Siliguri on January 27 were safely rescued from Raipur, Chhattisgarh, nearly eight months later by Pradhan Nagar Police.
The rescued minor has been identified as 16-year-old Lakhi Kumari Sah, while the young woman has been identified as 19-year-old Priyam Kumari. Both are residents of Pokai Jote Green Park.
According to information, their families lodged complaints at Pradhan Nagar Police Station on the day they went missing. Based on the complaints, police registered a case of kidnapping and launched an investigation.
During the initial investigation, police traced a mobile number linked to the two, but the number was switched off. As a result, investigators could not obtain any concrete clue about their whereabouts. Police continued the investigation and later learnt about a close friend of the two.
During questioning, police obtained another mobile number linked to them. As the number had not been recharged for a long time, tracking its location was difficult. Police subsequently recharged the number, following which they received crucial clues about their whereabouts.
Based on the mobile location, a team from Pradhan Nagar Police Station travelled to Raipur for the first time. However, after reportedly getting wind of the police presence, the two left Raipur and travelled towards Bhubaneswar and later Puri.
Police continued their investigation and prepared a special plan before travelling to Raipur for a second time. With the assistance of local police, the Pradhan Nagar Police team safely rescued both on September 27.
Police left Chhattisgarh with the two on September 30 and reached Siliguri on October 1. They were subsequently sent to a home in Matigara.
According to police sources, questioning revealed that the two were in a relationship and had initially travelled from Siliguri to Howrah to live together. From Howrah, they travelled to Raipur, where they reportedly stayed in a rented house and worked at a clothing store.
Police said the two had been living in Raipur for around eight months. The Pradhan Nagar Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding their disappearance and their stay in Raipur.
