Malkangiri: Police along with Childline officials rescued 14 children from a bus in Odisha’s Malkangiri district while they were allegedly being trafficked to Andhra Pradesh.
Acting on specific intelligence and a tip-off to the Child Helpline, the bus was stopped under Model police limits. The children, mostly from Sindhrimal panchayat in Malkangiri district, were reportedly being transported without proper documentation or verified parental consent.
According to sources, a 22-year-old woman from Malkangiri, who had left the area three years ago and r
eturned appearing educated and well-groomed, was accompanying the minors. She allegedly convinced the parents that the children would participate in a summer workshop, involving English lessons, dance, and possibly film shooting-related activities, with promises of free travel and accommodation.
The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) launched an investigation following the rescue. Counselling sessions with the parents revealed that many had not thoroughly verified the details of the offer before handing over their children.
Sources indicate the woman is linked to a religious organisation, raising concerns that the children could have been subjected to religious conversion as a precondition for the promised benefits of education and stay.
The minors, initially placed under the care of the CWC, have safely reunited with their families. Further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the alleged racket and any broader network involved.