Women trafficking on rise in Kandhanmal, five girls rescued

At least five girls, including two minors, were rescued by the police from riot-hit Kandhamal district while they were being allegedly trafficked to other states, police said.

The girls, belonging to Manajodi village under Daringibadi block in Kandhamal district, were spotted by the volunteers of 'Childline', an NGO, at the railway station in Berhampur last night, GRP sources said.

"The girls were later lodged in Utkal Balashram. They would be handed over to their respective parents in presence of the police tomorrow," director of Childline (Berhampur) Sudhir Sabat said in Berhampur.

He said the rescued girls initially tried to hide their identity. The girls, however, admitted that they were being trafficked. Meanwhile two volunteers of the Childline have gone to Daringibadi to identify their parents and consult the police, he added.

The police had last month arrested three persons, including a couple, while they were allegedly trafficking minor tribal girls from Daringibadi block.

Members of Childline had also rescued at least a dozen girls from the railway station here on January 23, while they were being trafficked to Kerala.