A 12-year-old girl who went missing from Aluva was traced to Pune on Tuesday, reportedly in the company of a 25-year-old man, according to the police.

She had left home on Saturday on the pretext of borrowing a book from a friend. When she did not return, a police complaint was lodged that night.

When it emerged that she had boarded a train with a man, a joint operation was launched with the Railway Protection Force. It was discovered that the two were travelling to Pune. Eventually, the girl was found early on Tuesday.

The police have registered a case.