Minor girl forced into sex trade at gunpoint in Odisha; 3 arrested

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Kendrapara, Mar 16: 

It may be hard to believe, but is true. Odisha’s Kendrapara police today arrested three for forcing a minor girl into flesh trade at gunpoint. Worse still, the man who trafficked her was an acquaintance.

As per reports, the main accused – identified as Sanjay Hati– had brought the minor (name withheld to protect identity) from Arada village under Patkura police limits of Kendrapara district to Bhubaneswar on January 10 on pretext of giving her a job in a bedding factory.

The girl, however, was kept in a guest house in the capital city and forced into sex trade. She was physically abused, beaten and her life was threatened at gunpoint if she attempted to resist.

“I was promised that I would be given a job at a bedding factory. We trusted him because he was known to our family. He, however, took me to Bhubaneswar and forced me into prostitution. I begged him to let me go, but none of my prayers worked. He took away my dignity and my sanctity,” said the visibly traumatized girl crying inconsolably.

The incident came to fore after she managed to escape somehow.

“The girl came back only two days back. She has lodged an FIR against Sanjay Hati – a son-in-law of this village,” said a villager.

Kendrapara police, so far, has arrested three people in connection with the incident.

“The poor girl had been lured to Bhubaneswar on assurances of employment, however, she was engaged in prostitution upon her arrival there. She has spoken to us in details about the issue. We are conducting raids at various places and have nabbed three persons including the prime accused Sanjay Hati so far,” said Patkura IIC Annapurna Behera.