UP pimps preying on Kendrapara villagers

UP pimps preying on Kendrapara villagers
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

KENDRAPARA, JANUARY 4: Driven by poverty and unable to marry off their daughters, five couples of the cyclone-ravaged Mahakalapara block in Kendrapara district are alleged to have sold their daughters for Rs 20,000 each to pimps from Uttar Pradesh.

The super cyclone which disrupted the lives of many villagers has made the area a happy hunting ground for pimps from UP. They persuade the gullible and hapless parents to give away their daughters on the assurance of finding a suitable match for them in UP.

At least 25 such girls have been ``bought'' over the past one month, it is alleged. Five such instances came to light recently. The police had begun investigations after The Indian Express first reported the sale of girls in July.

Jatin Mandal of Baulakani village had filed an FIR on September 6 this year at Mahakalapara police station, alleging that one Totaram of Kapurpur village in Baroli district of UP had married his sister, Ahalya Mandal, in Baulakani village but later sold her to a man in Bhadrapur village of Bareilly district.

Jatin said he had come to know of the plight of his sister when he went to meet her in UP. SP Sanjay Singh had assured him here that a police team would be sent to nab the culprit but nothing happened, he complained.

Last month Banshiram Mandal of Batighar village was alleged to have sold his 17-year-old daughter Susama to a pimp. Pabitra Patra's 19-year-old daughter, Kamala, of Kajalapatia village and Sabitri are also said to have fallen into the UP pimps' trap. Among the other victims being named are Kanan Mandal (18), daughter of Durgapala Mandal and Uma Mandal (17), daughter of Sachin Mandal of Kajalapatia village.

District Krusaka Sabha president Umesh Chandra Singh, OGP district youth president Rabi Samal, women leaders Dolly Das, Abanti Behera and others have criticised the police and the district administration for paying just lip service to the victims.