Sex racket busted in Bhubaneswar; four held after minor girl rescued

Bhubaneswar: A probe into the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl from Jharkhand has led Bhubaneswar police to uncover a sex racket operating in the Laxmisagar area. Four people have been arrested in connection with the case.

As reported by the TNIE, the investigation began after the girl, who had sustained serious injuries, admitted herself to Capital Hospital on October 16. Doctors discovered signs of sexual assault and alerted the police, who registered a rape case. Police Commissioner S Dev Datta Singh said CCTV footage showed the girl arriving at the hospital in an auto-rickshaw booked by another woman through an online app. Further inquiry led police to a house in Laxmisagar, where the racket was being run.

The house owner, Sanjib Kumar Das (54) and two women identified as Manju Sethi (47) and Mamata Sahu (42) were arrested for running the racket. Later, a 28-year-old man from Nayagarh, Abinash Muduli, was held for raping the minor. Two separate cases have been registered — one under Section 65(1) of the BNS and another under Section 6 of the POCSO Act.

Police also rescued three other women from the premises. The minor survivor, who hails from Jharkhand, is undergoing treatment and counselling. Authorities are in touch with Jharkhand Police to confirm her identity.