Baripada (Odisha), Mar 15 (PTI) The Odisha police busted a human trafficking gang and rescued two women who allegedly were sold by their aunt, an officer said on Friday.

The two tribal women, sisters by relation, were rescued from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Mayurbhanj district, S Susree, told reporters.

Also Read | Sangam Digital Twin Initiative: Department of Telecommunication Extends Deadline for Submission of Expression of Interest to April 5.

The police arrested one person - the alleged buyer - from Madhya Pradesh, while three others, including the aunt of the women, are absconding.

The sisters, one 22-year-old and the other 20-year-old, are residents of a village under the Bisoi police station in Mayurbhanj district, and were allegedly lured by their aunt with jobs.

Also Read | CAA-2019: MHA Launches Mobile App for Those Seeking Indian Citizenship Under Citizenship Amendment Act.

"They were contacted by their aunt, who promised them jobs in the Rourkela steel plant," the police officer said.

The aunt then contacted one middleman, who took the girls to Rourkela on December 6, 2023.

After reaching Rourkela, the middleman took one of the sisters to Rajasthan and the other to Madhya Pradesh.

They were sold for a total of Rs 2 lakh, the officer said, adding that the man who bought the elder sister in Madhya Pradesh married her.

The younger of the two sisters somehow managed to get in touch with their father after which he registered a complaint with the Bisoi police station.

A police team led by Sub Inspector Ghanashyam Mallick of Bisoi police station went to Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh to rescue both the sisters, the Mayurbhanj district SP said.

Efforts are on to catch the other accused persons, the SP added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)