Bhubaneswar: A minor boy, who was engaged as a domestic help in a house, was rescued by Childline and police in the city on Wednesday.
According to sources, the 13-year-old boy was trafficked from Kalinga Nagar area of Jajpur district in March last year when the lockdown due to COVID pandemic was imposed in the state.
Belonging to scheduled tribe, the minor boy’s father had died 5 years back and his mother used to earn livelihood by selling mohua collected from forest areas. When he was brought to Bhubaneswar by the traffickers, he was studying in Class IV.
Following information about the child, members of Childline, Bhubaneswar and personnel of Lingaraj police station conducted a raid on the house of Devendra Behera, a fish trader, at Kunjapatana Sahi in Old Town.
The matter has been reported to the District Child Protection Officer, Khurda and Child Welfare Committee. Presently the boy is placed at Ruchika Open Shelter.
