Mangaluru: A shop owner in Madikeri has been arrested by the Kadri police. According to the sources two minor girls (17 yrs) studying in a tutorial institute went missing on 11th Feb in Kadri area of the city.

In regard to this a complaint was lodged and after investigation the police traced the girls to Madikeri on Monday 20th Feb and arrested a shop owner from Puttur.

The girls stated that due to some dispute at their homes they had gone in search of a job and ended up in a fancy store in Madikeri. The shop owner Shankar Bhat (33 yrs) who is from Puttur has been arrested under the POCSO act for hiring minor girls.

The case has been handed over to women police station for further investigation. Sources state there may be more arrests linked to this abduction case.