Prayagraj: Three teenage girls from West Bengal’s Bardhaman district, who had allegedly run away from their homes on Monday, were rescued by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel from the Purva Express at Prayagraj Junction.The trio, all close friends, was traced after Bardhaman police alerted the Prayagraj RPF and shared their photographs. Police informed the RPF that the girls were suspected to be travelling towards Prayagraj aboard the Purva Express.When the train arrived at Prayagraj Junction on Tuesday night, an RPF team led by inspector Amit Kumar Meena cordoned off the train and launched an intensive search operation. However, the girls were not found in the reserved coaches.The search proved challenging as the girls had allegedly worn burqas to conceal their identities.Sub-inspector Kartik Mishra and woman constable Prem Kumari subsequently carried out a detailed search of the general coach and traced the girls. RPF personnel questioned passengers cautiously and adopted a sensitive approach while interacting with the girls, who are aged between 14 and 15 years.Officials said the girls were unable to clearly explain the reason for leaving home or their intended destination because of a language barrier. Their identities were later confirmed by the RPF team.Meena said the girls were handed over to Childline, Prayagraj, after completion of legal formalities. A team from Bardhaman police reached Prayagraj on Wednesday and took custody of the girls before leaving for West Bengal.
