Deogarh, June 16, 2025: A 15-year-old girl from Sharankot village, Saida Panchayat, Barkot Block, narrowly escaped being trafficked after a group of youths from Khunta village, Saruali Panchayat, attempted to lure her under the pretext of a party. The incident unfolded at the residence of Biju Munda in Munda Sahi, where the youths, arriving in a Bolero vehicle, organized a gathering involving alcohol and meat. They coerced Biju Munda and his son, both intoxicated, to hand over the minor girl to accompany them.
Despite resistance from the girl and her mother, the family faced threats, including physical assault by the girl’s brother, who warned her to comply or be sent to live with her widowed brother-in-law to care for his children. Under pressure, the mother reluctantly agreed. However, the girl cleverly escaped and alerted Anganwadi worker Nirupama Patra, reporting the coercion to leave with the youths on Sunday evening.
Nirupama promptly sheltered the girl and informed Pramila Pradhan, another Anganwadi worker from Saida, who mobilized the village’s Child Marriage Prevention Task Force. Over 20 members, including Jyotsnamayee Sahu, Jayanti Sahu, Manjari Mahant, Sukanti Sahu, and Deepti Pradhan, gathered at Nirupama’s house to protect the girl. Meanwhile, the 5-6 youths searched the village, locating the girl at Nirupama’s residence but waiting for an opportunity to abduct her.
As night fell, the task force contacted the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO). DCPO Romeo Mahapatra, along with departmental officer Chinmay Swain, Sakhi Kendra workers Rekha Sahu, Jyotirmayee Sahu, Shakti Sadan’s Nirmala Jena, and Child Helpline’s Karisma Mahakul, reached Sharankot that evening. They rescued the girl and shifted her to the Sakhi Kendra in Deogarh for institutional care. The youths, who had been hiding in a nearby forest, fled the scene. Police are investigating the incident, and efforts are underway to apprehend the suspects.
