Human Trafficking: Four girls rescued from Rourkela

Bhubaneswar: As many as four girls, including a minor, were rescued by Khurda police today from Rourkela before being allegedly trafficked to other states.

All four of them, rescued from a hotel in Rourkela, hail from Banpur area in Khurda district, police sources said.

Police have also arrested a middleman, identified as Bidyadhar Panda, involved in trafficking the girls.

As per information, the agent had promised them jobs in the banking sector and taken Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 from each of them. Later, he took all the girls to Rourkela and kept them in a hotel there.

On the basis of a complaint lodged by the family members, police began investigation and rescued all the girls.

"We heard that the agent had lured them and we were able to rescue them with the help of police. We don't have any idea why the person took them to Rourkela. We suspected something fishy and informed police," said a girl's relative.

On the other hand, the arrested agent said, "I along with another guardian took them to Rourkela and stayed in a hotel. The following day, at around 3 pm, we were informed that the girls will be trafficked to other areas. We thought they will get jobs in banks. We were not aware of this."

Meanwhile, police suspect a big trafficking racket behind this fraud job offer. Khurda SP, Diptiranjan Ray said, "Banpur police is investigating the case. The fraudster has been caught. He had taken Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 from three girls and Rs 30,000 from another girl. An investigation is on why the girls were taken to Rourkela."