13-Year-Old Girl Sold By Father For $9,700 Rescued, Found 4 Months Pregnant

A 13-year-old girl, who was sold for $9,700 by her father in the Indian state of Rajasthan earlier this year, was found in the southern city of Hyderabad on Monday.

Police began an investigation on June 30, when a man filed a complaint stating that his niece was missing. The man told the police that a middleman came to their home on June 23 and told the girl’s father that he had fixed her wedding in a reputed family. The girl’s father took her to the groom’s home to meet the family, however, when he returned home, the girl was not with him. When questioned, the man told the family that he had dropped the girl at her maternal uncle’s home.

Three days later, the girl’s family found out that she was not at her maternal uncle’s place. The girl’s father then informed them she was kidnapped and that he had filed a police complaint regarding the same. Convinced that something was wrong, the father’s brother filed a police complaint on June 30. The girl’s father along with the person to whom the girl was sold were taken into custody. Following investigation, both of them were charged with buying and selling the girl and were jailed.

On Monday, police finally managed to trace the girl in Hyderabad and brought her back to her family. She was with her mother and will be produced in court Friday. Police said the girl is four months pregnant. Investigation into the case was ongoing.