Kolkata, March 22 (NationPress) The Uttar Pradesh Police, in collaboration with the Kolkata Police, apprehended a man in Kolkata, 11 years post his alleged kidnapping of a minor girl from Uttar Pradesh, with whom he had settled in the city. The authorities announced the arrest on Sunday, confirming that the UP Police are arranging for the individual to be transported back to their state under transit remand.

As per the police report, in 2015, a young man took a minor girl as his wife. He reportedly abducted her from Khoda Colony in Uttar Pradesh and brought her to Kolkata. Following the incident, the girl's family lodged a formal complaint against him, accusing him of both abduction and sexual assault. Over a decade has elapsed since then, and the girl, once a minor, has now reached adulthood. The couple also has a child who is currently enrolled in school. During this time, the man evaded multiple police summons.

Consequently, the Uttar Pradesh Police executed a raid in Kolkata. A search operation in the Tangra area, carried out in cooperation with the Kolkata Police, led to the apprehension of the man, identified as Ranjit Singh.

According to police statements, Ranjit initially met the minor during their shared commutes to and from Uttar Pradesh. Their acquaintance blossomed into a relationship, which culminated in their marriage after he fled with her to Kolkata. The girl's family promptly filed a complaint at the Khoda Police Station following their disappearance.

After their move, Ranjit and his minor wife went into hiding. Despite extensive searches, law enforcement was unable to locate them. Ranjit eventually secured employment, and his wife matured into a legal adult. They welcomed a child, who is now attending school.

Throughout the years, Ranjit received summons from Khoda Police Station but consistently ignored them. Police officials later managed to obtain his mobile number. In conversations, Ranjit informed the Uttar Pradesh police that he was enjoying a fulfilling life with his family and felt that since his wife was now an adult, he should not be held accountable for the past.

The authorities clarified that the allegations of sexual assault of a minor and kidnapping—which fell under the Prevention of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act—remained valid, rendering him a criminal in the eyes of the law.

A senior officer from the Kolkata Police indicated that UP Police had advised Ranjit to appear in court in Ghaziabad accompanied by his wife, as she could potentially provide testimony that might lead to a favorable outcome.

Ranjit had previously misled the police about his location, claiming to be in Maharashtra or other states in southern India, while consistently eluding law enforcement and judicial proceedings.

Recently, the Khoda Police, acting on leads derived from Ranjit's mobile phone records, discovered his presence in Kolkata. This resulted in the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Ghaziabad court. Based on this warrant, police executed a raid in Tangra and successfully detained him. The authorities have confirmed that the arrested individual is currently en route back to Uttar Pradesh.

--IAN

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