Goa Police arrested a 19-year-old man from Kankavli in Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district on Thursday for allegedly kidnapping a 15-year-old girl from North Goa, authorities confirmed. The swift operation, involving interstate coordination, rescued the victim and highlighted vulnerabilities faced by migrant students in the tourist-heavy state, where cross-border abductions occasionally strain law enforcement resources.

The victim, a resident of Kankumbi in Karnataka, had been living with her aunt in Kudchirem, Bicholim town, North Goa, while attending a local higher secondary school. On Wednesday, she left home, claiming she was returning to her native place but failed to arrive, prompting her brother and family to file a kidnapping complaint at Bicholim police station that evening. Superintendent of Police Rahul Gupta detailed that an unidentified accused was booked under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—which addresses kidnapping—and Section 8 of the Goa Children's Act, emphasising protections for minors against exploitation and abduction.

In response, two specialised teams were dispatched to Maharashtra and Karnataka, supported by technical surveillance and ground intelligence. The girl was located in Kankavli, Sindhudurg, and safely rescued with assistance from local Maharashtra police. The accused was apprehended that afternoon and transported to Goa on transit remand for further interrogation. Gupta commended the collaborative effort, noting it prevented potential escalation in a case that could have involved human trafficking networks active along the Goa-Maharashtra border.

Also Read: BJP Leaders Charged for Illegal Bengaluru Roadblock Protest

This incident underscores ongoing challenges in safeguarding adolescent girls in educational hubs like Bicholim, where many students from neighbouring states reside in informal family arrangements. Goa's police have intensified patrols and awareness campaigns following a spate of similar cases in 2024, including elopements misreported as kidnappings amid cultural and familial pressures. As the investigation proceeds, authorities aim to uncover any broader motives, ensuring the victim's rehabilitation and counselling to mitigate trauma. The arrest serves as a deterrent, reinforcing interstate protocols under the BNS framework enacted in July 2024 to replace colonial-era laws.

Also Read: South Korea Fires Warning Shots to Repel North Korean Vessel Breaching Sea Boundary