Paralakhemundi: Police in Odisha’s Gajapati district busted an interstate human trafficking racket by arresting two accused and rescuing seven female victims, including six minors.
A joint operation conducted along with Hyderabad police led to the arrest of two accused – Iswar Kusulia of Rayagada and Chandra alias Sarita Jain alias Saritha Lunawat. The victims were allegedly sold for Rs 70,000 each.
Sources said a case was registered at Adava Police Station in Gajapati following a complaint from a man whose sister went missing on June 21. The victim later revealed that Kusulia lured her and a friend with false job promises, took them to Hyderabad, and sold them to Lunawat. The victims said they were confined, tortured, and forced into immoral activities.
Investigation by the police showed that several other girls had been trafficked similarly, exposing a well organized network operating across states. Acting on credible intelligence, a team led by SDPO R. Udayagiri Rakesh Sahoo, raided Lunawat’s premises in Hyderabad and rescued the victims.
Both accused were produced before court and sent to 14 day judicial custody. Police continue to trace other members of the trafficking ring, verify criminal backgrounds, and collect digital and documentary evidence.
Sahoo said Gajapati Police remain committed to combating human trafficking and ensuring rehabilitation for survivors. Authorities urged citizens to stay alert to false job offers and report suspicious activities to the nearest police station or Dial 112.
