Overview

• The 13-year-old ran away from her Wazirpur home on July 21 and travelled by metro and train to Meerut before being drawn into the trafficking network.
• On July 24 the victim was forcibly married at a Shamli residence and allegedly sexually assaulted by the 40-year-old groom.
• Authorities arrested Rajeev (40), the alleged groom; Vikas (20), who lured her; Ashu (55), who confined her; and Ramanjot Singh (24), who forged her identity documents.
• Investigators seized a fake Aadhaar card showing the girl as 19 and multiple mobile phones from a Ghaziabad cyber cafe linked to the suspects.
• The probe is ongoing into possible wider links across Uttar Pradesh and Delhi, with early reports suggesting the ring may have trafficked over 100 other girls.