MALAPPURAM: The police have confirmed that Fathima Shahad and Aswathy, the Plus Two girl students who went missing from Tanur in Malappuram the other day, have reached Mumbai. The investigation to locate them has been intensified, and authorities are hopeful of finding them soon. It has been confirmed that the girls have arrived in Panvel, Mumbai. It is also reported that the girls are with Edavanna native Akbar Rahim.

Akbar Rahim told the police that he met the girls at the Kozhikode railway station. However, the police believe he initially got acquainted with the girls through Instagram. After learning about the girls' plan to travel to Mumbai, Rahim reached Kozhikode railway station, where the girls purchased train tickets for him as well. Realizing that the police were tracking them, Rahim reportedly attempted to return. However, as per police instructions, he is currently staying in Mumbai.

The girls boarded a train to Mumbai yesterday at 1 PM. They reached Panvel railway station today around 11 AM and later traveled to Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST), Mumbai. There are suspicions that they have since returned to Panvel. Police have also received CCTV footage which showed the girls getting their hair cut at a nearby salon.