Getting protection from

is nothing new for Mumbaikars. But an Ahmedabad police team, which had rushed to Mumbai to find a 21-year-old girl, allegedly held captive, took the help of the political outfit to trace and

her.

Vastrapur police were roped in for the operation but no FIR was filed. This followed an uproar by some members of her community at the police station for release of the

of a Vadnagar

leader. On May 2, a group of people rushed to Vastrapur police station, alleging that the girl was held captive by a Mumbai boy.

“They became friends on

around a month ago. Recently, the boy told the girl to attend her sister’s wedding at his place in Shivajinagar, Mumbai. When she came in April-end, she realized he looked different from what was seen in videos and pictures he posted,” said a police official. “She decided to return to her parents in Mehsana, and in a video call to them, she claimed she was held captive. Her parents approached Vastrapur police as the girl was working in a mall which falls under their jurisdiction,” added the official.

PSI G R Bharwad, and ASIs Puja Vaghela, Krupesh Joshi and Jayanti Barot came to Mumbai on May 3. When they approached Shivajinagar police for help, Mumbai police allegedly told them that the area was so dangerous that even they do not go there at night. “They told us that the residents would dub the Vastrapur police as thieves and thrash them. So, they took Sena’s help,” said a police official.

Four Sena workers accompanied them to Shivajinagar on May 3 midnight. “They had to ensure that no one obstructed Vastrapur police and to take them to the right place. Finally, police caught Akash Sathe, and took him to Shivajinagar police. Sathe later told relatives to bring the girl to Shivajinagar police station, and they handed her over to police,” said the police official. Vastrapur police on Sunday afternoon handed over the girl to her parents.

Inspector M M Jadeja of Vastrapur police said, “We knew some Sena workers in Shivajinagar and took their help. In Ahmedabad too we take the help of residents.”