Odisha college librarian turns human trafficker: Gun, valuables seized, interstate network under scanner

In a startling revelation, Odisha police stated that a major human trafficking racket busted on Friday was allegedly operated by a college librarian in Bolangir district. The accused has been identified as Prakash Behera, who is employed as a librarian at KV College in Kantabanji.

According to police, Behera now stands accused of running an extensive migrant labour trafficking network along with his brother Brajesh Behera, illegally moving hundreds of workers every year to other states under exploitative conditions.

Raid At Librarian’s House 

Acting on a tip-off, a joint team of Kantabanji police and district labour officials conducted a raid at Behera’s residence in Ward No. 8 of Kantabanji town late Friday night. The officers discovered 55 labourers, including 41 adults and 14 children, who were allegedly being held in confinement before being transported to other states.

Police also recovered Rs 1.67 lakh in cash, 15 bank passbooks, a gun, gold ornaments, and several important documents believed to contain details of money transfers and labour contracts.

The rescued individuals, mostly from poor tribal and Dalit families of Bolangir and neighbouring Nuapada districts, were shifted to a temporary shelter and are being counselled by the labour department and child welfare officials.

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Key Accused On The Run

Both Prakash and Brajesh Behera reportedly fled moments before the raid. Kantabanji Police have registered a case under sections related to human trafficking, bonded labour, and illegal confinement, while a manhunt has been launched to apprehend the duo.

Preliminary findings suggest that the Behera brothers coordinated with middlemen in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, sending thousands of workers annually to brick kilns and construction sites where they were subjected to debt bondage.

Investigators suspect that Prakash Behera, despite being a government employee, used his social standing and financial access to manage accounts, prepare forged documents, and store advance money collected from contractors.

The police believe that his official position helped him operate undetected for years. As of the last reports, further investigation in this regard is ongoing, and police have not offered any additional comments.