Bhubaneswar, Apr 27: A shocking case of human trafficking has come to light with the rescue of two young women from Nepal who were allegedly forced into sex work in Kolkata.

The women, lured with promises of jobs, were instead pushed into exploitation by brokers linked to Sonagachi’s red-light network.

The rescue was carried out by an Odia youth, Rakesh Kumar Das, who, with the help of friends and police, managed to free the victims after a five-day plan.

Rakesh, a student in Kolkata, learned of the women’s plight from a friend on March 25. On March 30 night, he and his associates rescued the women from the brokers. However, due to lack of identity documents and strict border checks, they were initially taken to Sikkim for safety.

Also read: Police Intensify Investigation in Sudhir Patra Murder Case

Efforts to repatriate them through Nepalese authorities did not succeed, and finally, on April 16, Rakesh brought them to Bhubaneswar by train.

Upon arrival, he informed Chandrasekharpur police in writing and handed over the victims. The women were admitted to a short-stay home with police assistance, and their statements were recorded by the Child Welfare Committee (CWC).

The Commissionerate Police has also contacted the Nepal Embassy to facilitate their safe return home.

The victims revealed they were forced into sex work at ₹5,000 per night, earning around ₹1.20 lakh per month for the traffickers. Those who resisted were confined and subjected to severe abuse.

Police are now investigating who brought the women from Nepal, whether their families were aware, and how they were trapped in the racket. The Chandrasekharpur police are probing deeper into the trafficking chain.

This incident follows a similar case months ago when a Bangladeshi minor was rescued from Madhupatna and handed over to CWC. That case was later investigated under the POCSO Act by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

Authorities believe these repeated incidents highlight a larger organized network trafficking women from neighbouring countries into India.

The Commissionerate Police has intensified its investigation, aiming to identify the masterminds and dismantle the racket.