Jajpur, April 21: Thirteen minors travelling from Bihar were rescued from a train by the district Child Helpline with assistance from the Railway Police, officials said on Monday.

According to preliminary information, the children were reportedly on their way to a madrasa for studies when the team intercepted them. Acting on inputs, officials tracked the group from Bhadrak and successfully rescued them upon arrival in Jajpur.

The rescued minors are aged between 6 and 16 years. The district coordinator confirmed that the operation was carried out in coordination with railway authorities. Further inquiry is underway to ascertain the circumstances of their travel and ensure their safety.

In a similar incident reported five days ago, as many as 59 minors were rescued from Cuttack Railway Station by the Railway Protection Force (RPF). The children were later handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC), and an investigation was initiated.

According to reports, the minors had arrived on the Howrah–Puri Dhauli Express and were intercepted by RPF personnel while deboarding at the station. During questioning, it was revealed that all of them belonged to Araria district of Bihar.

Meanwhile, a man identified as Maulana Mohammad Akhlaad from Raghunathpur in Jagatsinghpur district had reached the station and claimed that the minors had come to Cuttack to study at a madrasa. However, he failed to produce any valid documents to support his claim.

Subsequently, all the minors were produced before the CWC and handed over for further care and verification. Police have continued their probe into the matter.

The back-to-back incidents have raised concerns among authorities over the movement of minors under unclear circumstances.