In a major anti‑trafficking operation late Wednesday night, police in Bihar’s Rohtas district rescued 17 minor girls — reportedly from Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh — from an alleged trafficking and bonded‑labour racket in the village of Bardihan. Three people have been arrested in connection with the case.
Raid halts alleged trafficking ring
Acting on an intelligence tip‑off that teenage girls were being brought into Bardihan under the pretext of “work” and forced into exploitative conditions, officials from five police stations — led by the Additional Superintendent of Police of Bikramganj — carried out a night‑raid in Bardihan.
During the operation, authorities found 17 underage girls and detained three suspects. The rescued minors were subsequently handed over to the local Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Sasaram for age verification, counselling and rehabilitation.
Growing concern over cross‑state trafficking
This incident underscores a disturbing pattern: minors reportedly being trafficked across state borders — from tribal or economically vulnerable regions — under false promises of employment. Recent months have seen several such crackdowns in Bihar, with many victims reportedly lured into “orchestra groups”, forced labour or worse.
Activists warn that economic hardship and deceptive job offers continue to make girls — often from rural areas — particularly vulnerable to traffickers. Many cases remain hidden until intelligence tips lead to raids.
Next steps: care, investigation and prevention
Authorities say the first priority is to provide immediate care, protection and counselling to the rescued girls. The CWC will oversee their welfare and work on family tracing and rehabilitation. Meanwhile, police investigations are underway to identify the full network behind the trafficking operation — including recruiters, transporters and “buyers”.
Officials have also indicated that further raids may follow, pointing to intelligence that suggests other minors may have been trafficked similarly in neighbouring districts.
Conclusion
The Bardihan raid serves as a grim reminder of how vulnerable minors remain to trafficking, especially in poor or remote areas. While rescue operations are crucial, long-term solutions — including better poverty‑alleviation, education, awareness, and cross‑state coordination — are essential to prevent such exploitation.