Nineteen minor girls in the age group of 15 to 17 were rescued by volunteers of Childline and Saathi, an NGO, with the help of the Railway Protection Force at the Visakhapatnam railway station.
According to Abdul Raqeeb, member, District Child Welfare Committee, most of the girls belonged to Gunpur district of Odisha and Gajapathinagaram in Vizianagaram district and were reportedly being taken to Akiveedu in West Godavari district to work in a prawn hatchery.
They were accompanied by a 25-year-old youth also hailing from Gunpur.
Circle Inspector of RPF R. Kumar said the girls were wandering aimlessly at the platform and when questioned by members of Childline and Saathi their responses were incoherent.
The girls have been sent to the Government Girls Shelter Home under the Juvenile Welfare Department. “Investigation is on and we are yet to ascertain their details, as they are not able to come out openly. We are also looking into the aspect of trafficking,” said Mr. Raqeeb.
