10 minor girls reunited with families

Berhampur (Odisha): Ten of the 14 minor girls rescued by police two days ago were reunited with their families in Odisha`s Ganjam district, police said Thursday.

The girls, who had been in Child line`s custody since Tuesday, were produced before the District Child Welfare Committee (CWC) before being handed over to their parents yesterday. The other four will be reunited with their parents when their families come to take them, police said. These girls, aged between 13 and 17 years, were rescued while they were being allegedly trafficked to Chennai to work in a garment factory by a six-member gang, including four women. "We have arrested all six persons involved in the incident", said Inspector In-Charge (IIC) of Baidyanathpur police station, Deepak Mishra. Those arrested have been identified as S Subha Laxmi of Coimbatore, Sabita Sahu, Soudamini Pradhan, Madhuri Bisoi, Bibhuti Sahu and Balaji Pradhan (all from Ganjam district). "We have advised the parents of the girls not to be lured by middlemen promising them good salaries", said chairperson of CWC U S Murthy. PTI