Patna: In a significant operation, police rescued more than 40 minor girls during a major raid on orchestra groups in Gopalganj district on Tuesday. The operation was conducted early morning, between 1am and 7am, targeting approximately 15 orchestra groups in the Kuchaykot area. During the raid, 22 individuals were arrested on charges of child trafficking and exploitation.
Joint Operation and Supervision
The raid was carried out jointly by Kuchaykot police, Association for Voluntary Action, Narayani Seva Sansthan, and Bihar Police. It was supervised by senior officers, including Additional Director General of Police (Weaker Section) Amit Jain and Gopalganj Superintendent of Police Vinay Tiwari.
“The rescued girls are between 10 and 17 years old. They were trafficked from states like West Bengal, Assam, Delhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh. After counselling, they have been shifted to safe places. Age verification and other legal processes are ongoing,” said SP Vinay Tiwari.
Modus Operandi of Traffickers
Manish Sharma of the Association for Voluntary Action revealed that these girls were lured with false promises and pushed into sexual exploitation through orchestra groups. “They were forced to dance at weddings and faced abuse even after the events. Many girls told counsellors that they were sold by fake boyfriends or tricked with offers of money, fame, and chances to work in Bhojpuri films,” he said.
Ravi Kant, national convener of Just Rights for Children, stated that this was part of an organised trafficking network. He praised the Bihar Police action but called for stronger coordination between states and strict action during the wedding season. “The groups were under watch for the past one month. The raid was timed when no weddings were happening so that all girls would be present at the locations,” he added.
Ongoing Investigation and Support
The rescued girls are currently receiving counselling and have been placed in safe shelters. Legal proceedings, including age verification, are underway to ensure proper rehabilitation and justice. The police continue to investigate the trafficking network, aiming to dismantle the entire operation.
This raid highlights the persistent issue of child trafficking in the region, often masked under the guise of cultural performances. Authorities urge the public to report any suspicious activities to help protect vulnerable children from exploitation.
