SHAH ALAM – What began as a dream to meet their idols turned into an ill-advised and dangerous adventure for three minor girls from Maharashtra.
In a bid to fund their dream of travelling to South Korea to meet the global K-pop sensation BTS, the girls, aged 11 and 13, staged their own kidnapping, creating a worrying situation for their families.
According to the Times of India, the girls from Dharashiv district hatched a plan to travel to Pune, where they intended to work and save money for the trip.
Their journey began on December 28, 2024, but it quickly escalated into panic.
One of the 13-year-olds called her parents, falsely claiming that she and her friends had been abducted.
The call, made in a bid to avoid worrying their parents about their delayed return, triggered immediate concern.
The call, which was made on December 27, led to a frantic search for the girls.
Superintendent of Police Sanjay Jadhav confirmed that a helpline call had been received, reporting the alleged abduction of the three schoolgirls who had been abducted in a van.
"The girls intended to go to Pune first, earn money and then fund their travel to South Korea to meet BTS," Jadhav said.
Using mobile phone tracking, police were able to locate the girls within 30 minutes.
The bus they were travelling on was intercepted near Mohol in Solapur district, about 115 kilometres from Omerga.
With the help of Mohol police and a local shopkeeper at the bus stand, the girls were safely removed from the bus and brought to a nearby police station.
When reunited with their families, the girls confessed to their plan, revealing the extent of their obsession with the K-pop group.
Authorities used this opportunity to counsel both the girls and their parents, stressing the risks of such impulsive decisions and the dangers of excessive social media influence.
Parents were urged to monitor their children's screen time and engage in open discussions about their children's interests and aspirations.
A report from The New Indian Express corroborated the events, highlighting how the police tracked the girls through mobile signals and coordinated with a local woman who helped ensure their safe return.