Eight arrested in Hyderabad minor-trafficking investigation

Hyderabad police arrested eight people on October 9 in an investigation into the alleged trafficking and sexual exploitation of a minor, The Hindu reported, citing police.

Investigators allege that the girl was abducted on September 2, confined and sexually exploited. Police said 30,000 rupees had been paid when she was transferred to other members of the alleged group.

She escaped on October 5 and returned home, where she told her family what had happened. Police traced the suspects after receiving a complaint. Four of the eight people arrested are women.

Officers seized six mobile phones and an autorickshaw. The case includes alleged kidnapping, trafficking, wrongful confinement, rape and criminal conspiracy, alongside offences under child sexual-protection and anti-trafficking laws.

The accused were brought before a court. Police are continuing to investigate individual roles and financial transactions. The allegations have not been established by a court judgment.