Odisha tribal girl trafficked to UP, raped repeatedly for years; FIR registered: Police

Police said they have launched an investigation after the survivor lodged a complaint on May 23 at Kamakshyanagar police station.

Updated on: May 29, 2026, 07:41:35 IST

By Debabrata Mohanty

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A 17-year-old tribal girl from Odisha’s Dhenkanal district, who was allegedly trafficked to Uttar Pradesh’s Jhansi district under the pretext of a job, sold twice and subjected to repeated sexual and physical abuse for two years, escaped last week with the help of a local lawyer and returned home, police said.

Police are on the lookout for the prime accused, who is absconding. (AI-generated image)

Police said they have launched an investigation after the survivor lodged a complaint on May 23 at Kamakshyanagar police station and are on the lookout for the prime accused, who is absconding.

“A woman has filed a complaint alleging assault in Jhansi district of Uttar Pradesh after a man from Odisha sold her there. The suspect is currently on the run,” said Jitendra Mallick, inspector-in-charge of Kamakshyanagar police station.

According to the FIR, the girl was living in the Kankadahada area of Dhenkanal district after her mother’s second marriage when a local man approached her in 2024 with an offer of employment in Bhubaneswar.

Instead of a job in Bhubaneswar, she and three other girls were trafficked to Uttar Pradesh and handed over to a man named Asish Yadav in the Jhansi district.

The victim said she was confined to Asish’s home in Jhansi for three months, where Asish and his father Kalyan repeatedly assaulted her.

“When I became pregnant as a result of the abuse, Asish’s mother, Urmila, arranged for a forced medical abortion,” the FIR said.

After the abortion, the girl was sold to a person named Chandrapal Kushwaha for ₹50,000 December 2024.

“Chandrapal raped me first. Then his elder brother and two uncles took turns. This went on for two years,” the FIR added.

The minor eventually escaped one night with the help of a local advocate and made her way to the Jhansi district headquarters last week. But the police offered no relief and sent her back to Odisha. Police as well as lawyers believe the case may be part of a far wider pattern. Madhur Yadav, an advocate who helped the girl flee, said trafficking of this nature was routine.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Debabrata Mohanty
Debabrata Mohanty is a senior assistant editor of Hindustan Times who works as state correspondent from Odisha covering the state's politics, governance, public policy, natural disasters, environment and its society for close to three decades. With his long years of reporting from the state capital of Bhubaneswar, Mohanty has been known as one of the most experienced and credible journalists covering Odisha for the national English dailies. His reporting combines on-ground detail with deep institutional knowledge detailing the state's changing politics, governance issues, administrative reforms and the functioning of its public institutions. He has regularly reported on issues ranging from legislative developments and public policy implementation. Politics is his core areas of expertise as he closely tracks Odisha's political landscape, including the rise and transformation of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), the two principal political parties in Odisha. His long association with the state's political establishment enables him to write on contemporary developments in a larger political context. Mohanty takes a deep interest in writing human interest stories, environmental issues and documenting the impact of cyclones, floods, heatwaves, and other climate-related events in one of the most disaster-prone states. His coverage extends to public health, governance reforms and stories on accountability of government institutions. Before joining Hindustan Times, Mohanty worked with The Indian Express, Mail Today, and The Telegraph, where he covered at least six general elections and as many assembly elections. In 2007, he was selected for the prestigious Chevening Young Indian Print Journalist Programme at the University of Lincoln, United Kingdom, where he received advanced training in print journalism. In 2009 he won the Press Institute of India-International Committee of Red Cross award on conflict reporting for his on-ground reportage of 2008 Kandhamal riots.Read More

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