The row of prostitution and commercial exploitation of children for sex in Yadagirigutta, that came to light on July 30, took a new turn on Friday when two couples approached the police, claiming two of the trafficked girls were their missing daughters.
P. Anuradha and Krishna from ECIL in Hyderabad, Makam Chinna Dibbaiah and Ishranthamma from Markapuram town in Andhra Pradesh, surprisingly reached the Assistant Commissioner of Police’s office here, one after the other in half-hour gap. The couple from Hyderabad said one of their twin daughters Madhumitha (name changed), who went missing in September 2014 when she was a four-year-old, was almost identical to the girl shown in a news channel. They showed a missing complaint filed with the Kushaiguda police and old photographs of the girl as evidence. The Markapuram couple, who appeared to be in their 50s, said Keerthana (name changed) was the youngest of their four daughters. “She was a resident of Social Welfare girls hostel in Markapuram, studying in 7th class. She went missing in October 2017,” the mother said. They also had a photocopy of the missing girl’s FIR they got in Markapur (T) police, in addition to the household card, photographs and the Aadhaar card, that showed a different name.
Coincidentally, both the claimants’ daughters had gone missing after school hours, they had four daughters each, and the first information reports were made at 19:30 hours.
The Markapuram police, when contacted, said the complaint with them was true and was pending even now. A team from Prakasam district would start for Yadagirigutta for investigation, the official said. Kushaiguda police inspector also said verification of the details was going on. However, a member of the Child Welfare Committee suspected another angle. “It has to be proved beyond doubt that these girls were not sold by their parents themselves, as illegal adoption (buying and selling), among other ways, is the basis for procuring minor girls,” the member said. Yadadri town inspector P. Ashok Kumar said the claimants were sent back and further action would be initiated only after DNA test.
Till Friday, the police have rescued 15 girls, arrested 14 accused and a registered medical practitioner, sealed 11 houses and a nursing home.
