Couple kidnaps minor girl, sells her for marriage in Rajasthan; Sarkhej Police bust trafficking racket

In a shocking incident from Ahmedabad's Sarkhej, a 14-year-old girl was allegedly abducted by her neighbours, a couple, and sold in Rajasthan under the pretext of getting her married. The traffickers reportedly received ₹5 lakh from a Rajasthan-based man for arranging the so-called marriage. Sarkhej police have arrested three accused, including two women, and rescued the minor safely.

The incident came to light after the minor went missing from her home on April 29. When their daughter could not be traced despite all efforts, the foster parents approached the Sarkhej Police and filed a complaint. They had also noticed that their neighbours — Bharatji alias Govindji Thakor and his wife Bharti Thakor — had suddenly gone missing around the same time.

Upon investigation, it was revealed that the couple had kidnapped the girl and trafficked her to Rajasthan, where she was forcibly married to a man named Veersinh Rathod. Acting swiftly, police traced the girl near Banaskantha and rescued her. Along with the couple, a third accused, Tina Thakor, has also been arrested for her role in the crime.

Speaking to the media, ACP AB Valand of M Division said that this appeared to be part of a wider human trafficking racket in which minor girls were kidnapped and sold under the guise of marriage.

More accused involved

Further investigations revealed that the arrested couple hail from Mehsana, while the third accused, Tina Thakor, is a resident of Bhabhar in Banaskantha district. Police have identified four more absconding accused — Vanraj Rathod, Meghraj Rathod, Hina Rathod (all from Banaskantha), and Veersinh Rathod from Rajasthan — all believed to be part of the same trafficking network.

As per police sources, the 14-year-old was sold to Veersinh Rathod for ₹5 lakh. She was reportedly sent to him for one night under the pretext of marriage and then brought back, suggesting the accused duped the buyer as well. Police suspect middlemen are operating in this racket, and further investigations are underway to uncover