Gujarat : RPF Rescues 2 Minor Girls at Ahmedabad Station

AHMEDABAD: A timely alert and swift action by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) helped rescue two minor girls allegedly taken from Jodhpur, while two men accompanying them were apprehended at Ahmedabad Railway Station under Operation Rail Prahri, officials said on Friday.

The operation was launched on August 13 after Kudi Bhagtasni police station in Jodhpur City alerted Ahmedabad RPF about the missing girls and suspected train travel.

Acting on the information, an RPF team searched the Jodhpur-KSR Bengaluru Superfast Express (20693) when it arrived at Ahmedabad. Personnel identified one of the girls and apprehended the man accompanying her after he allegedly tried to flee.

During the attempted escape, the suspect allegedly threw his mobile phone from the train after deleting communication records. RPF personnel subsequently traced and recovered the device at Nadiad Railway Station.

Investigators examined the phone and restored relevant data, which reportedly helped identify a mobile number linked to the second suspect. With assistance from Jodhpur Police, his live location was tracked.

The second man was subsequently apprehended along with the other minor girl on Platform No. 1 at Ahmedabad Railway Station.

Preliminary questioning indicated that the accused allegedly established contact with the girls through social media and gaming platforms before befriending them online and taking them to Jodhpur Railway Station. Investigators said the men allegedly planned to travel with the girls to Bengaluru.

The accused were identified as Aquib Ansari, 24, and Syed Ibrahim, both reportedly associated with Bengaluru.

Officials also recovered a purported fake e-Aadhaar document bearing the name “Aryan” and photographs of the girls’ Aadhaar cards from digital devices.

“The information received from Jodhpur Police enabled the RPF team to act quickly and trace the suspects during their journey,” officials said.

The rescued girls and the two accused were initially taken to the RPF post before being handed over to Government Railway Police (GRP), Ahmedabad, under a written memorandum.

The GRP and Jodhpur Police are continuing the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the girls’ disappearance and the alleged online interactions.