Odisha Police Bust Inter-State Human Trafficking Racket, 2 Girls Rescued From Rajasthan

Rourkela: Police here have busted an inter-state human trafficking with the arrest of four of its members on Monday.

Two minor girls, who were sold in Rajasthan, were also rescued.

According to Rajgangpur SDPO Abhishek Panigrahi, an investigation into October 10, 2023, complaint after a minor girl went missing revealed that she was trafficked to Rajasthan with the promise of a job by Sonu Sharma, Pinky Devi, Sheikh Asraf Ali, Monu Sharma and others.

The identity of the girl was changed with forged documents and she was subjected to physical and mental torture before being sold to one Ramesh Chandra Kushwah (27) for Rs 2.40 lakh. Kushwah allegedly got the girl married against her will. The girl was rescued from Sarthal village in Bara district of Rajasthan in July and Kushwah and Monu were arrested the same month, Panigrahi said.

Police stumbled upon another minor girl of Kutra, who was sold in a similar manner in Rajasthan, during the probe. She was rescued from Bara on August 15. Sachin Ray Gautam along with Sonu, Pinky and Ali were later arrested and forwarded to court.

The SDPO added that further investigation is underway and more arrests are likely.