An 11-year-old girl from Tumkur was reportedly sold by her aunt to settle a ₹35,000 loan but has been successfully rescued by the Tumakuru city police from Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, officials said.
The girl, who was in the fourth standard, had been sent to her aunt’s house in Hindupur for vacation in April. “The aunt promised her sister she would care for the girl but allegedly sold her,” said K. Tejawati, Tumkur district labor officer. The girl was sold to landlord Sriramulu for ₹35,000 to settle a debt.
Sriramulu forced the girl to graze ducks and held her hostage. When the girl’s mother, Chaudamma, visited Hindupur in late June, she found her daughter working for the landlord. Despite her desperate pleas, Sriramulu refused to release the girl, demanding repayment of the loan.
“Chaudamma reported the situation to me on July 3. I wrote to the SP, who ordered the town police to take action, leading to the girl’s rescue,” Tejawati stated.
The district superintendent assigned the city police to rescue the young girl, who was safely brought back to Tumakuru on Wednesday.
“We have booked Sujatha (30), her husband Shankar (35), and landlord Sriramulu (40) under IPC Sections 137 (kidnapping) and 140 (wrongful confinement) and rescued the child from Sriramulu’s house. An investigation is underway, and appropriate action will follow,” Tejawati added.
Tejawati expressed relief over the successful rescue operation. The girl has been placed in a safe environment, and further steps are being taken to ensure her well-being and address the legal aspects of the case.
