Mayurbhanj police arrested Daneswar Murmu on Wednesday for allegedly trafficking two minor girls and two women from Katuria village to Madhya Pradesh.
Murmu, a resident of Katuria within Sarat police limits, reportedly lured the victims with promises of high-paying jobs. The girls and women were members of financially weak tribal families, who initially trusted Murmu’s assurances.
Police successfully rescued the two minors from Fatehgarh area in Guna district, Madhya Pradesh. Operations are ongoing to locate and rescue the remaining two women.
According to Udala Sub-Divisional Police Officer Hrushikesh Nayak, Murmu took the four victims to a railway station in Madhya Pradesh on April 1, handing over the minors to one broker and the women to another before returning to Katuria.
The parents of the girls contacted them on April 13, only to learn they were still waiting for the promised jobs. When one father approached Murmu to arrange their return, the broker reportedly refused to act. Following a formal complaint, a police team conducted a rescue operation, bringing the minors to safety.
The rescued girls were shifted to a rehabilitation centre for counselling. Murmu has been taken into custody and will be produced in court on Thursday. Authorities are continuing efforts to recover the remaining two women.
