Odisha Girl Sold Off In Delhi By Male Friend Rescued

Sundergarh: A 25-year-old girl of the State was rescued from Delhi after allegedly being sold off by her male friend who took her to the national capital on pretext of marriage recently.

According to source, one Sankar Bage had taken the girl hailing from Kucheita in Chandiposh area of Sundergarh district to Delhi on March 3 on the pretext of marrying her. After reaching there, the accused dropped the girl at an office in Punjabi Bagh area. However, the girl later learnt that her friend had sold her off.

She managed to call up her parents and narrated her ordeal. Subsequently, the girl’s parents lodged a complaint with Chandiposh police in this regard on March 5.

The girl’s family alleged that though the police had registered a case under Sections 370 and 374, they did not take any action initially to rescue the girl. Later, they sought the help of a social activist in the locality who intervened in the matter and urged the police to rescue the girl immediately.

The police, however, expressed reluctance to visit Delhi before March 12. The said an agency in Delhi was reportedly planning to shift the girl elsewhere when the social activist contacted a Delhi-based voluntary organisation working for women.

Following complaint from the social activist, the members of the voluntary organisation swung into action and rescued the girl. She reached Rourkela on Tuesday evening.

The statement of the girl will be recorded under Section 161 of CrPC at Chandiposh police station and subsequently under Section 164 before a magistrate today, police said, adding action will be taken against those involved in the trafficking of the girl.