Hints of a racket of trafficking of minor girls from remote villages of Gajapati district in Odisha to Goa has come to fore following revelations by a 16-year-old girl who gave birth to a child on September 23.
Following intervention of local Childline activists, this girl from a village under Adava police station area has been admitted to Paralakhemundi district hospital along with her child that she had delivered at her village. Through her relatives she lodged a complaint before Gajapati Superintendent of Police Satyajit Nayak on Tuesday evening. As per the complaint, in 2012 a person named Joseph Sabar had taken her to Goa promising her parents that she would be provided free education and a better life in Goa.
It is alleged that Sabar had also paid a few thousand rupees to the girl’s father. But in Goa the girl was employed as a domestic help and had to face sexual exploitation at the hands of Sabar. She had become pregnant and in June this year, Sabar allegedly brought her back to Berhampur and escaped. The girl reached her home in advanced state of pregnancy and delivered the child. Speaking to The Hindu , Mr Nayak said investigation would be initiated regarding the complaint and all efforts would be made to track down the alleged trafficker.
Director of Childline, Gajapati, Sudhir Sabat said during interaction with the victim, they had found hints that apart from this girl around 200 other women of Adava area have been trafficked to Goa by Sabar. It is alleged that Sabar has also married seven women. But these allegations are yet to be verified, police sources said.
Was reportedly taken to Goa on the pretext of a better life; allegedly sexually expoloited
