Bhubaneswar: Bhubaneswar Childline Wednesday said they had rescued four children Tuesday late night, aged between 14 and 15 years, who were allegedly being trafficked to a bread factory in Bhubaneswar from Ganjam district.
The four children were engaged at a bread factory at Pallaspali area as labourers here.
The members of Childline Bhubaneswar with the help of Airport police officials rescued the victims from the bread factory while they were working there.
The owner of the bread factory has been identified as Manoj Gauda from their village in Ganjam district. He had brought the four children from his village in the district and employed them as labourers in his factory.
When asked, the frightened victims told that Manoj had given some money to their parents as their parents had also lost their jobs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He brought them to Bhubaneswar to work in his factory as their schools were shut.
The accused had assured their parents for a monthly salary of Rs 4000/- to the children.
Following rescue, the children were produced before the Additional Child Welfare Committee (CWC). Later, they were sent to the Ruchika Open Shelter.
Police detained the factory owner and interrogated him on the details of the case.
PNN
