Odisha woman ‘sold’ for Rs 1.5 lakh in Rajasthan, 5 arrested

Jharsuguda police rescued a married woman who was allegedly sold for Rs 1.5 lakh in Rajasthan. Five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident which indicates towards an organised human trafficking racket.

The victim was rescued from Neemuch district in Madhya Pradesh. It is pertinent to mention here that the victim, who was already married, was allegedly trafficked from Jharsuguda by a woman and two of her associates to Rajasthan. Later, she was married off to a man identified as Manoj Prajapati against her will.

“On April 7, we received a complaint and it was alleged that some people have taken away a girl from Jharsuguda and was married off in Rajasthan against her will,” said Jharsuguda SP, Bikash Chandra Dash.

According to Dash, two special teams were subsequently formed to carry out a detailed probe into the incident. One team was sent to Neemuch and another team carried out the probe in Rajasthan.

It is alleged that the broker- Supriya Prajapati had coaxed the victim who had left her home following a quarrel with her husband who was staying at a rented accommodation at old basti area in Jharsuguda.

Senior police officials said three persons- Hrusikesh Sethi, Kiran Sethi and Danishi of Jharsuguda were arrested on April 7. Later, the broker Supriya alias Rajni and Manoj Prajapati were arrested on April 13.

“I had married the girl and paid Rs 1.5 lakh. I was not aware that she was already married and had a child,” said Manoj Prajapati.