Mahila Samakhaya Society, a non-government organisation working for destitute women, has come forward to help four women allegedly being forced to work with a theatre.

The women, including four minors, were taken to work with the theatre based in Bengal after being promised good jobs by a neighbour. All four are from Bengal’s Burdwan district. They were taken to Calcutta by the neighbour with job promises.

They escaped to Ladari, around 40km northeast of the Darbhanga district headquarters, on August 12 when the theatre came to perform at Paradhi village.

Mahiya Alam, the district co-ordinator of the society, said: “The police have been informed. We are trying to ascertain the addresses of the women and send them home.”

No one from the theatre company could be contacted.

The senior superintendent of police, Darbhanga, Kumar Aikley said: “We have information that the four women have taken shelter in Ladari village. I have directed Seema Kumari, the women’s police station house officer in Laheria Sarai, to take action in this case. She will take stern action against people found guilty.”