Police arrested the prime accused in a human trafficking and sexual assault case involving a minor girl from Odisha.
The accused, identified as Vinod Patra of Dihajodi village under Kankadahad police limits in Dhenkanal district, allegedly took the victim from her native village to Bhubaneswar on the pretext of providing employment.
Investigators said Patra trafficked the girl to Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh, where she was repeatedly sold and subjected to sexual assault for nearly two years. He initially lured her with promises of work in Bhubaneswar.
After enduring two years of exploitation, the girl managed to escape and return to Kamakhyanagar. She lodged a complaint with the police, detailing her ordeal. Acting on the complaint, Kamakhyanagar Police formed a three-member special team and launched an operation. The team tracked Patra to Badra in Andhra Pradesh’s Annamayya district and arrested him.
Police produced Patra before the court after the arrest. Officials confirmed that efforts are underway to identify and apprehend other persons involved in the trafficking network.
