Sambalpur: A minor girl allegedly abducted from Hirakud in Sambalpur district and sold for lakhs of rupees has been rescued from Madhya Pradesh, while a 34-year-old man has been arrested in connection with the case.
Sambalpur Additional Superintendent of Police Ajay Kumar Mishra said the girl went missing from the Hirakud police station area September 25, 2026. Following a complaint, police registered a case (210/26) at Hirakud police station and formed a special team to investigate.
During the investigation, police traced the girl to the Tendukheda police station area in Madhya Pradesh’s Damoh district. A special team travelled to the state and rescued her safely. The arrested accused, identifi ed as Shivshankar Yadav (34), was produced before a court and remanded to judicial custody.
According to police, the investigation revealed that the girl had allegedly been sold for lakhs of rupees after being lured with money, without the knowledge of her family. Cases have been registered under relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and anti-human trafficking laws, among other applicable provisions. The rescued girl has undergone a medical examination and her statement has been recorded. Police have initiated further proceedings to identify and take action against others allegedly involved in the crime, Mishra said.