Police said 10 people, including alleged kingpin Geetanjali Bag (37), have been arrested and forwarded to court. Several women were rescued and placed under protective arrangements.
The breakthrough began with a far more disturbing complaint. A minor girl from neighbouring Baragada district was allegedly forced into sexual exploitation. After a medical examination showed she was about seven months pregnant, the SP ordered a sweep of suspected locations in Balangir. Two cases were registered at Adarsha police station and Laxmijora police station under Sections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Bag is also named in Town police station Case No. 367/2026, police said at a press conference at the district police headquarters.