In a significant operation, police in Bihar's Saran district have rescued ten girls, nine of whom are minors, from various orchestra groups allegedly forcing them into obscene performances. The raids, conducted on Saturday, have revealed a cross-state network of exploitation, with two of the rescued girls hailing from Garwah district in neighbouring Jharkhand.
Raids Across Saran District Free Victims
Acting on directives from National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) member Priyank Kanungo, police teams carried out simultaneous raids at multiple locations across Saran district. The operations targeted orchestra groups operating in areas including Maddhour, Maker, Janta Bazaar, Sahjitpur, Baniapur, and Masrak. The rescued girls were found to be originally from several states: Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, and even Nepal.
The two victims from Garwah district were specifically rescued from the jurisdiction of the Janta Bazaar police station area. According to authorities, the girls were initially recruited under the guise of performing dances but were later coerced into performing immoral and obscene acts against their will.
Swift Action Follows NHRC Directive
The rescue operation was set in motion after NHRC member Priyank Kanungo sent a letter to Saran Superintendent of Police Kumar Ashish last Wednesday. The letter urged immediate intervention to rescue the girls and instructed that they be presented before the relevant Child Welfare Committees (CWCs) without any delay.
Following the successful raids, police have arrested two individuals and detained one minor in connection with the case. The process of restoring the girls to their families has now begun. All the minor victims have been produced before the CWC via video-conferencing to initiate formal procedures.
Restoration Process and Shelter Home Stay
Virendra Kumar Singh, the director of the Mission Mukti Foundation, played a crucial role in gathering intelligence about the victims. He confirmed that the Jharkhand government has been formally notified about the incident involving girls from the state.
"All the minors have been produced before the CWC through video-conferencing," Singh stated. "The Jharkhand govt has been informed about the incident, and the restoration process to their parents will be carried out. The victims are at a shelter home at present."
Singh also highlighted a concerning pattern, revealing that Saran police have rescued a total of 289 minor girls from exploitation so far, with many originating from Jharkhand. This latest incident underscores the persistent challenge of inter-state trafficking and the exploitation of minors in the region, prompting calls for stricter vigilance and coordinated action between state authorities.
