Howrah, 30 March (H.S.):

Two persons have been arrested for allegedly attempting to traffic a minor girl from Howrah Railway Station, police said on Monday.

According to officials of the Government Railway Police, a woman from Mothabari in Malda district lodged a complaint stating that her 16-year-old daughter was approached by an unidentified man at the station on March 25 while she was waiting with friends to board a train back home.

The man allegedly posed as a police officer and threatened the girl with arrest before taking her through a subway to a waiting taxi, where another accomplice was present. The duo then took her to an unknown location with the intention of trafficking her, police said.

Realising that the men were impostors, the girl raised an alarm, prompting locals to gather. The accused then abandoned her on the road and fled the spot.

With the help of local residents, the girl managed to return to the station, following which she was rescued by the GRP and sent to a shelter home in Liluah.

Based on the complaint, a case was registered and an investigation was launched. Police said the accused were tracked down and arrested within 24 hours.

The arrested persons have been identified as Noor Alam Sk (21) of Domkal in Murshidabad district and Mizarul Mondal (26) of Ashoknagar in North 24 Parganas district.

They were produced before a court in Howrah with a prayer for a test identification parade, police added.

Senior Railway Police official Indrajit Basu has directed officers to remain vigilant and take prompt action against any attempts related to human trafficking.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey