A Special Investigation Team from Ernakulam Rural police successfully rescued a 13-year-old girl from the Naxal-infested terrains of Odisha after a grueling 4,000 km journey.

  • Ernakulam Rural SIT successfully rescued a 13-year-old girl from Ganjam district, Odisha.
  • The operation involved a 4,000 km journey and a midnight trek through Naxal-affected forests.
  • The girl was traced after a complex investigation spanning Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Odisha.

In a display of extraordinary determination, the Ernakulam Rural police Special Investigation Team (SIT) from Kerala traversed nearly 4,000 kilometres to rescue a 13-year-old migrant girl from the Ganjam district of Odisha. The girl had been reported missing from the Kuruppampady police station limits on August 13, 2026.

The investigation initially hit a roadblock when local searches yielded no results. However, leveraging advanced technological tools, investigators identified a man named Kesav in Salem, Tamil Nadu. Interrogation revealed the girl’s connection to a youth from Odisha, though the trail briefly went cold when mobile signals were deactivated. The intensity of the search escalated following the formation of an SIT by District Police Chief K.S. Sudarshan.

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Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this operation highlights the increasing necessity for inter-state police coordination and the high-stakes nature of tracking missing minors across diverse geographical terrains in India.

The mission took a perilous turn when the girl was traced to a remote, Naxal-infested area in Odisha. Local Bhanjanagar police advised the SIT against approaching the village in official vehicles during daylight to avoid drawing unwanted attention. Consequently, the team planned a high-risk midnight operation.

The team had to wade through 40 kilometres of dense forest terrain on foot to reach the target location.

To maintain stealth, the SIT parked their vehicles a kilometre away and moved in single file through the thick forest. The operation was conducted alongside eight armed personnel from the local Odisha police to ensure safety against potential insurgent threats.

Upon reaching the target residence, the team faced a chaotic situation as neighbors woke up, leading to confrontations. Despite the melee, the SIT successfully secured the girl and apprehended the suspect, identified as Alok. The team, which included Sub-Inspector K.M. Aby and officers N.P. Bindu, Arun K. Karun, and Rajith Ram, safely returned the girl to Kerala.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Where was the missing girl located?
She was located in the Ganjam district of Odisha, in a remote forested area.

2. What were the primary challenges faced by the police?
The police faced Naxal-related security threats, dense forest terrain, and the need for extreme stealth during a midnight operation.

Did You Know?: The SIT had to walk 40km through a forest in total darkness to avoid detection by locals and insurgents.