Police Constable's Ingenious Strategy Cracks Stalled Investigation
In a remarkable display of investigative ingenuity, a police constable from Naroda in Ahmedabad successfully solved a two-year-old alleged kidnapping case involving a minor by employing an electoral procedures ruse. The breakthrough came when the officer pretended to be a Booth Level Officer (BLO) to penetrate the radio silence maintained by the accused.
The Clever Disguise That Broke the Case
The constable contacted the father of the accused under the pretext of conducting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. "The constable contacted the father of the accused and asked for family details the way a BLO would," revealed Naroda inspector P V Gohil. This strategic approach proved effective where conventional methods had failed for two years.
The father, believing he was assisting with official electoral work, initially stated he didn't have his son's contact number but mentioned that the accused's brother might possess it. Within minutes, the father called back with the mobile number, unknowingly providing the crucial lead police needed to advance the stalled investigation.
From Phone Number to Arrest
Once authorities obtained the phone number, they immediately tracked its live location to a plastic factory in Sobhasan village, Mehsana. A police team swiftly moved to the location and found both the 24-year-old accused and the minor girl living together as a married couple.
According to police statements, the accused confessed during interrogation that he had married the girl, who is now 15-16 years old, approximately one month prior to his arrest. The two had been residing together as husband and wife at the Sobhasan location.
Background of the Case and Legal Actions
The case originated in 2023 when the minor's father, a resident of Naroda, filed a First Information Report (FIR) under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The father had suspected that the man had eloped with his daughter, who was then 13-14 years old, under false pretenses of marriage.
Following the arrest, the minor underwent a medical examination and was subsequently reunited with her family in Naroda. The Naroda police have registered a comprehensive case against the accused under multiple legal provisions:
- Sections of rape under the Indian Penal Code
- Charges of abducting a woman to compel marriage against her will
- Relevant provisions of the Pocso Act
The accused had successfully remained untraceable for two years until the constable's innovative approach using electoral procedures as a cover story enabled the breakthrough in this sensitive case involving a minor.
