In a shocking incident, a 12-year-old girl was rescued from a begging gang at Churchgate station in Mumbai. The girl is deaf and mute and was forced to beg on the streets. It has also been reported that she was subjected to sexual abuse.
The Marine Drive police were alerted by a citizen about a girl begging around Churchgate station. The police arrived at the location and found the girl in a distressing state. When the police tried to communicate with her, they found out about her disabilities.
The police tried to question a man standing near the girl, but his answers raised suspicion. Soon, two transgender people approached the police, claiming the girl as their own. All three were taken into custody.
The accused were identified as Bharati alias Rakhi, Shivani alias Deepak Babulal Saini, and Dev Sanjay Koli. They were arrested between Churchgate station and Wankhede stadium. They belong to Delhi, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh, respectively.
The trio has been charged under sections 363 and 363 (A) of the Indian Penal Code for kidnapping and maiming a child for begging. The police are still investigating the sexual abuse charges.
The police are trying to piece together how the accused individuals ended up in Mumbai with the kidnapped girl despite being from different parts of the country.
The victim has received medical attention and is currently in a city creche facility. The police are making efforts to reunite her with her parents. The incident brings to light the alarming number of children reported missing in the country, with over 60,000 cases reported each year from 2016 to 2018.
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