More than 200 members of the Sikh community gathered in West London to rescue a 16-year-old Sikh girl who was allegedly abducted and sexually abused by a grooming gang.

After hours of protests, police detained the main suspect and the girl was safely reunited with her family.

The incident took place in Hounslow and gained national attention after videos of the rescue circulated widely on social media.

According to the Sikh Press Association, the accused is believed to be in his late 30s or early 40s and was known in the area for suspiciously “befriending” underage girls.

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Reports say he began contacting the Sikh girl when she was around 13 years old and gradually groomed her over time.

When the girl turned 16, she was allegedly persuaded to leave her family home using common grooming tactics such as emotional manipulation and false promises.

Community groups claim police were unable to act immediately as the accused took advantage of legal loopholes. As concerns grew, Sikh organisations and local residents decided to intervene.

Hundreds of people gathered outside the suspect’s residence, demanding action and the safe return of the girl. The protest continued for several hours and was attended by the girl’s parents.

Eventually, police arrived at the scene and took the suspect into custody. The girl was later brought back to her family.

A video shared on December 30, 2025, by Sikh community platform AK Media 47, showed activists confronting the alleged groomer.

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A neighbour accused the man of being involved in inappropriate relationships with young girls and said she had seen him with another child who appeared to be around 12 years old.

Hounslow has around 20 secondary schools, with thousands of children passing through the area every day. Community leaders have raised serious concerns about child safety and monitoring of repeat offenders.

UK-based Sikh groups, including Sikh Youth UK (SYUK), have launched a nationwide inquiry into grooming cases following a rise in similar incidents. They say vulnerable girls are often targeted through tactics like “love bombing,” bullying, and isolation from family.

In some reported cases, grooming has led to sexual exploitation, abuse, and other serious harm. In June last year, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced a national inquiry into grooming gangs.

(With inputs from TOI)