Berhampur, March 25: Mohana police in Gajapati district, supported by Borivali police in Mumbai, have rescued Rajani Nayak (15) from Mumbai who was sold to brokers by her maternal uncle for Rs 20,000.
Rajani is a resident of Adaba in Gajapati district. She has studied till Class VII in a local school at Adaba. “Her maternal uncle Murti Kabar took her to Mumbai for ‘higher studies’ one year ago and sold her to brokers for Rs 20,000. Murti has remained absconding since then,” said Dibya Lochan Behera, sub-inspector of Mohana police station, after he reached here in the wee hours today.
Police have at present lodged Rajani at a childcare centre at Mankhurd in Mumbai. “She would be transferred to the childcare centre in Berhampur within a week after completion of some legal process. Then she will be handed over to her parents,” Behera said.
Rajani was employed as a maidservant in the house of Nikhil Seth, who is an advocate residing at 8D/12, LT Apartment, Sai Baba Nagar, Borivali. Mumbai police, who supported their Orissa counterparts and rescued Rajani, also arrested Nikhil Seth by registering cases under different sections of the Child Labour Act. “Nikhil has also given to the police Rs 22,000 as compensation for Rajani,” Behera said.
Raju Nayak and Lalita Nayak, the parents of Rajani, who work as labourers, are happy to get to know their child’s whereabouts.
“We are grateful to Gajapati superintendent of police Sarthak Sarangi, sub-inspector of Mohana police station Dibya Lochan Behera, and President Pramila Devi Mahila Kalyan Sangha Pramila Tripathy who have helped us to get back our daughter,” said her parents.
“When some villagers told us that Rajani might have been sold in Mumbai, we got the shock of our lives. She also talked to us over phone explaining her plight and gave her address Sai Baba Nagar. Later, another lady called us and said that they would return us our daughter if we go there and pay them Rs 20,000. Then, we lodged a FIR in the Adaba police station but the police remained silent for six months. Helpless, we approached Pramila Tripathy on March 9. When she approached the SP of Gajapati and demanded immediate action, the SP deputed Dibya Lochan Behera sub-inspector of Mohana police station for her rescue. Tripathy, along with Behera and some associates went to Mumbai on March 20 and traced my daughter,” said Lalita.
“Tracing Rajani in Mumbai was a difficult task. But the name of Sai Baba Nagar as mentioned by Rajani over phone to her parents helped us to trace her out. I am thankful to Bhagban Chatte, senior police officer of Borivali police station, for his cooperation,” said Behera.
“I have spent Rs 24,000 for Rajani’s rescue. But I am very happy that she has been rescued at last,” said Pramila Tripathy.
