Operation Paree-II: Ganjam tops in child trafficking in Odisha

Cuttack: Ganjam topped in child trafficking among other districts in Odisha with the highest number of children rescued during Operation Paree II launched by the State government.

According to media reports, police rescued 1,773 children in total 36 police districts, out of which the highest number of 485 minor children including 25 girls were rescued in Ganjam and Berhampur police districts.

Koraput is ranked second in the list of rescued children with the number 141 (64 minor boys and 78 minor girls).

Out of total rescued children across Odisha, 1,486 are minor boys and 287 are minor girls. Police registered 105 cases in connection with child trafficking.

As the case of child trafficking and sexual exploitation are increasing across the State, the situation is yet to be alarming in remaining 34 police districts besides Ganjam and Koraput, the media reported.

While 37 minor children were rescued in the State capital under Bhubaneswar Commissionerate police limits, 6 in Cuttack Commissionerate, 33 in Cuttack Rural, 42 in Jagatsinghpur, 67 in Jajpur, 52 in Kendrapara, 42 in Puri, 46 in Nayagarh, 33 in Khordha, 13 in Balasore, 66 in Bhadrak, 19 in Mayurbhanj, 12 in Sambalpur, 5 in Bargarh, 28 in Deogarh, 30 in Jharsuguda, 49 in Dhenkanal, 6 in Angul, 70 in Balangir, 15 in Sonepur, 44 in Gajapati, 42 in Kandhamal, 55 in Boudh, 5 in Nabarangpur, 47 in Rayagada, 10 in Malkangiri, 59 in Kalahandi, 29 in Nuapada, 60 in Sundergarh, 36 in Keonjhar, 7 in Rourkela, 51 in Cuttack GRP and 30 in Rourkela GRP, a Crime Branch report stated.

As the 15-day Operation Paree II launched on September 1 to rescue missing children ended on Saturday, the second phase of operation began in other states from September 16 i.e Sunday with specific inputs.

Total eight teams were constituted having 64 officials from Odisha Crime Branch and Women & Child Welfare department to gear up the second phase Operation Paree II outside the State.

They have visited the States including Delhi, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand and West Bengal on the mission to rescue the children allegedly trafficked and engaged in various institutions as labourers. The teams will return to Odisha on September 30 after getting success in their operation.