Police rescues 5-year-old girl sold to Banchda tribe for Rs 20,000 by her uncle

A man allegedly sold his five-year-old niece for Rs 20,000 to Rajasthan's Banchda tribe, notorious for pushing girls into prostitution.

The little girl had suddenly disappeared from her house in Aamli Bhat village on December 16. Initially, it was believed that she was kidnapped after which a case of abduction was filed and Neemuch Superintendent of Police (SP) Rudolf Alvares announced a reward of Rs 5,000 for information about the kidnappers, police said.

Acting on a clue that her uncle Babulal Meghwal gave her chocolates as well as the fact that information provided by him proved to be wrong, police got suspicious and took him into custody for interrogation, after which he broke down.

Meghwal told police that he had sold the little girl for Rs 20,000 to Banchda tribesmen at Mandalgarh in Bhilwara district after which police raided their hideouts and rescued the girl, police said.

A case under Section 370(4), 372 and 373 was registered against Meghwal and Babulal Banchda, the police said, adding that a further probe is on.