Three Traffickers Arrested in Inter-State Minor Girl Case
Police in Berhampur have made significant breakthroughs in a disturbing human trafficking case that involved the kidnapping and sale of a 14-year-old girl from Kandhamal district to Madhya Pradesh. Three individuals, including two brothers from Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, are now in custody for their alleged roles in this crime.
The arrests came on Thursday following a coordinated police operation that spanned multiple states. The accused have been identified as Sashi Bhusan Pani (28) from Tumudibandh in Kandhamal district, and brothers Sandeep Patel (24) and Mahesh Patel (38) from Jaisiv Nagar in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district.
How the Trafficking Operation Unfolded
According to police officials, the trafficking scheme began approximately two months ago when Sashi Bhusan Pani allegedly approached the minor girl's mother in their village under Kotagarh police station limits. Pani reportedly lured and brainwashed the mother into allowing her daughter to work as a domestic helper in nearby areas.
However, instead of finding local employment for the girl, Pani transported her to Madhya Pradesh and handed her over to a middleman who remains at large. Police sources revealed that this middleman then sold the girl to Mahesh Patel for Rs 70,000, apparently for marriage purposes.
The situation took a dramatic turn when the girl, who was opposed to marrying Mahesh, managed to contact her elder sister and pleaded for rescue. At the time of the incident, the girl's father and elder sister were working in Kerala, while she lived with her mother in the Kotagarh village.
Police Rescue Operation and Arrests
The case came to light when the girl's father filed a First Information Report (FIR) at Kotagarh police station on October 21. Acting swiftly on the complaint, police tracked the telephone call made by the distressed girl and immediately dispatched a team to Jaisiv Nagar in Madhya Pradesh.
The minor girl was successfully rescued from the house of one of the accused in Jaisiv Nagar. Following standard procedure, she underwent a medical examination before being safely returned to her parents.
Ananda Chandra Patra, the Inspector-in-Charge of Kotagarh police station, confirmed that Pani faces multiple charges including kidnapping, trafficking, cheating, and raping the minor girl. The Patel brothers have been arrested specifically for their involvement in the trafficking aspect of the crime.
Police authorities have indicated that the search continues for the remaining middleman from Madhya Pradesh who facilitated the sale of the girl. The investigation remains active as authorities work to ensure all individuals involved in this trafficking network are brought to justice.
