Minor girls, women rescued from human trafficking in Odisha

Sambalpur: Two minor girls and three women were rescued from Puri-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express by the Government Railway Police (GRP) while allegedly being trafficked from Odisha to Mumbai.

A couple from Dhenkanal, who was allegedly involved in the illegal transportation was also taken into custody.

As per the available information, acting on a tip-off, the GRP searched the Mumbai-bound train and rescued the children and women at Sambalpur station.

Sources said the couple had brought them from Angul district.

Meanwhile, the police have launched an investigation into the matter to find out under which circumstances they were being taken to Mumbai.

Cases of child trafficking and sexual exploitation have been increasing in the State at an alarming rate.  In most of the girls’ cases, they were being lured of good jobs with hefty wage and marriage for a better life.

Majority of the girls were from southern and western parts of the State and they had been rescued from States like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, etc.