Labour trafficking racket busted in Odisha; 14 children among 55 rescued in Bolangir

Illegal labour trafficking has resurfaced in the Bolangir district soon after Dussehra, with police busting a racket in Kantabanji of Bolangir district. A raid led by the ASP on Friday uncovered a large group of workers allegedly being prepared for trafficking.

Acting on intelligence, a police team searched a house in Ward No. 8 of Kantabanji town, suspected to belong to a key accused and chief mastermind of the migrant trafficking racket.

41 Labourers And 14 Children Rescued

Reports stated that during the raid, police rescued 55 people, including 41 adult migrant workers and 14 children, who were allegedly confined inside the premises awaiting illegal transportation.

The workers were allegedly being mobilised under the supervision of two middlemen, identified as Brajesh Behera and Prakash Behera. Both fled the scene during the raid and remain at large.

Authorities said the group was being readied for trafficking outside Odisha for labour in sectors such as brick kilns and construction, where exploitative practices are common.

Police have launched a manhunt for those absconding and have launched a deeper probe to track the wider network behind the racket.

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Policy Push To Address Migrant Labour Concerns

The crackdown in Kantabanji comes weeks after the Odisha government held a high-level task force meeting on migrant labourers in August, chaired by Deputy Chief Minister Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo.

The meeting focused on reducing distress migration, improving welfare measures, and ensuring the rehabilitation of migrant families. Singh Deo noted that while migration numbers had dropped compared to previous years, the problem had not been eliminated.

During the meeting, reports had also highlighted that the Rs 800 input assistance and incentive money provided to workers, along with local employment opportunities, had contributed to lowering migration levels. However, as per recent reports, the trafficking rackets continue to operate, especially in Bolangir.