Cuttack, Jan 29: Acting on the allegations of children of a slum being sold in other states, a three-member team of Child Welfare Committee (CWC) began investigation into the incident in Odisha’s Cuttack Friday.
The team led by District Child Protection Officer went to Nilakantheswar slum under Chauliaganj police station limits and interacted with the family members of the children who were being allegedly sold in phases.
This apart, officials of Childline also reached the slum and assisted in the investigation.
According to reports, at least a dozen children, including girls, have been allegedly sold in neighbouring Andhra and have been employed in various works. The minors have been allegedly sold between Rs 10, 000 and Rs 15, 000, residents of the area alleged.
“Children from our basti are missing since long. They are being sold at Rs10, 000-Rs 12, 000.
Furthermore, it is alleged that a women Sashi Behera has been playing the role of go-between to facilitate child sale.
Meanwhile, neither any case has been registered against anyone at the local police station nor any arrest has been made so far.
The children aged between seven and 15 have been trafficked to other states with the help of middlemen from the slum, reports.
