Siliguri, 15th July: Two minor girls from Malda were rescued in Siliguri after they were allegedly lured with the promise of a modelling opportunity in South Korea in a suspected human trafficking attempt.
According to police sources, the two minors, both residents of Malda, had come in contact with a few individuals through social media. They were allegedly promised modelling opportunities in South Korea and instructed to travel towards the Bhutan border. Acting on the instructions of the alleged traffickers, the girls boarded a bus.
After the two minors went missing from their homes, their families informed the police. On Tuesday night, NJP Police conducted surveillance by boarding buses in the Noukaghat area. The two girls were later safely traced and brought down from a bus near Jalpai More before being taken to NJP Police Station.
Police immediately informed the families, and the process of handing over the minors to their guardians has been initiated.
Former English Bazar MLA and BJP leader Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury visited the police station after learning about the incident. She interacted with the two minors and appreciated the prompt action taken by the police, stating that timely intervention by the administration helped avert a potentially major tragedy.