Human trafficking: Jharkhand police rescues 31 girls including 9 minors from Latehar

Jharkhand police rescued 31 girls including 9 minors who reportedly were being transported to Tamil Nadu to work in a thread factory. The rescued girls were later transported to a government school in the area and they would be sent to their respective hometowns when the investigation is completed.

Latehar (Jharkhand): Jharkhand police on Wednesday seized a bus that was transporting 31 girls including 9 minors who were reportedly being transported to Tamil Nadu to work in a thread factory.

According to the initial reports, the girls were taken from different districts of Jharkhand by a middleman Shiva Oraon, a resident of Balumath.

The police were tipped-off by an informer when the bus halted in Dadha village under Balumath Police Station area. Later, all the girls were rescued and investigations are underway.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, circle officer, Ravi Kumar asserted that a large number of daily wagers moved to the state during the COVID-19 lockdown and now, they are in search of jobs to earn a livelihood.

"It may be possible that these girls were assembled to transport to the factories in Tamil Nadu or it may be the case of human trafficking as the driver failed to show the agreement papers which are generally given by the employer", said Kumar.

He further added that the rescued girls will be accommodated at a government school in the area. They will be sent to their respective homes only after the investigations are completed.

Jharkhand's Chief Minister Hemant Soren during lockdown had promised to carry out skill mapping of the migrant workers in a bid to provide jobs in their respective hometowns.