Two Major Breakthroughs in Missing Minor Girls Cases: Tripura Police Rescue Four Teenagers from Gujarat and Guwahati, Two Accused Arrested
By Our Correspondent
Agartala, July 1, 2026
Tripura Police have achieved major breakthroughs in two separate missing minor girls cases, successfully rescuing four teenage girls from Gujarat and Assam and arresting two accused persons allegedly involved in kidnapping and suspected human trafficking.
The first case involved the dramatic rescue of three 16-year-old girls from Dhalai district within 48 hours of their disappearance, while the second saw a missing girl from North Tripura's Dharmanagar traced and rescued from Guwahati nearly a month after she went missing.
According to police, both cases highlight the growing importance of swift interstate coordination and technology-driven investigations in combating crimes against children.
The first incident occurred in Dhalai district's Ganganagar area, where three 16-year-old girls mysteriously disappeared after leaving their homes to charge their mobile phones at the nearby 19 Mile area. The girls had stepped out because their village was without electricity, but failed to return home, triggering panic among their families.
Following complaints lodged by the parents, Ganganagar Police registered a case and immediately launched an investigation. Family members alleged that a local youth, identified as Mukesh Reang (26) of Ullemchhara village under Ganganagar Police Station, had lured away the girls with the intention of trafficking them.
During the investigation, police received information on Monday that the girls had been taken to Gujarat. Acting swiftly, investigators established contact with the Gujarat Police and launched a coordinated search operation.
A case was registered against Mukesh Reang under Sections 137(2) and 143(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation was entrusted to Sub-Inspector Swapan Debbarma of Ganganagar Police Station.
Police said that on Tuesday evening, Gujarat Police successfully rescued the three girls immediately after they reached Ahmedabad. The accused was also found with them and taken into custody.
A team from Tripura Police is now proceeding to Gujarat to complete legal formalities and bring the rescued girls and the accused back to the state.
Investigators suspect that Mukesh Reang transported the girls by train after allegedly luring them with false promises of employment in Gujarat. Police are probing whether the girls were being taken for human trafficking or forced labour. The accused will be subjected to detailed interrogation to identify any wider trafficking network that may be involved.
In another significant operation, Dharmanagar Women Police Station rescued a 16-year-old girl from Borjhar in Guwahati, nearly one month after she had gone missing from East Haflong village under Dharmanagar.
According to Officer-in-Charge Shipra Das, the girl disappeared on June 2, leaving her daily-wage labourer parents distressed. After failing to locate their only daughter despite extensive searches, the girl's mother lodged a written complaint at Dharmanagar Women Police Station on June 10.
Police immediately registered Case No. 13/2026 under Sections 137(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and launched an intensive investigation.
Leading the probe personally, OC Shipra Das visited the victim's residence and recovered an old mobile phone number used by the missing girl. Using technical surveillance and digital tracking, investigators traced the girl's location to the Borjhar area of Guwahati.
With assistance from local sources in Assam, police successfully rescued the minor girl and arrested the accused, identified as Jewel Sarkar (25), a truck driver from Janardhan Para of Machhmara ADC Village under Pecharthal Police Station in Unakoti district.
Police have begun questioning the accused to determine the circumstances surrounding the girl's disappearance and whether any trafficking or exploitation was planned.
Senior police officials stated that both rescue operations demonstrate the effectiveness of prompt investigation, interstate police coordination, and modern technological tools in locating missing children. Investigations in both cases are continuing to ascertain whether organised human trafficking networks were involved and whether additional arrests may follow.
Authorities have reiterated their appeal to parents and guardians to immediately report any missing child so that timely intervention can significantly improve the chances of a safe recovery.
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