11-Year-Old Sold For ₹35,000 Loan, Tumkur Police Rescues Girl From Andhra Pradesh

An 11-year-old girl from Tumkur, Karnataka, was reportedly sold off by her aunt to settle a ₹35,000 loan but has been rescued by the Tumakuru city police from Hindupur, Andhra Pradesh, and brought back to her hometown, authorities confirmed.

The incident unfolded when the minor girl was sent to Hindupur in April for vacation at her aunt's residence while studying in the fourth standard. However, instead of caring for her, the aunt allegedly sold her to a landlord named Sriramulu for the amount to settle a debt.

Sriramulu then kept the girl under his control, forcing her to work, including grazing ducks. In late June, the girl's mother, Chaudamma, visited Hindupur and discovered her daughter's plight with the landlord. She pleaded for her release, but Sriramulu insisted on repayment of the loan, claiming he had purchased the girl.

Chaudamma filed a complaint on July 3, prompting action from authorities. Tumkur district labor officer K. Tejawati intervened, writing to the Superintendent of Police (SP), who instructed the town police to act swiftly. They successfully rescued the girl from Sriramulu's custody.

"We have booked Sujatha (30), her husband Shankar (35), and landlord Sriramulu (40) under IPC Sections 363 (kidnapping) and 342 (wrongful confinement) and rescued the child from Sriramulu's house," Tejawati stated. An investigation is underway, with steps being taken to ensure the girl's well-being and address the legal ramifications of the case.

The successful rescue operation has brought relief and satisfaction to authorities, ensuring the girl's safety and placing her in a secure environment.