Chhatrapur, August 11: Three minor girls were rescued from Chhatrapur Railway Station by the District Child Protection Unit while they were allegedly being taken to a shrimp processing factory in Gudivada, Andhra Pradesh, for work.

According to officials, two of the rescued girls are from the Purushottampur and Chhatrapur areas of Ganjam district, while the third is from Puri district.

The girls were allegedly brought to Chhatrapur Railway Station by a middleman, identified as A. Maguni Patra of the Kabisuryanagar area. They were reportedly being taken to Andhra Pradesh on the Puri–Tirupati Express.

Acting on a tip-off, officials of the District Child Protection Unit reached the railway station and rescued the three minors before they could board the train. The alleged middleman was also detained and is being questioned.

Preliminary information suggests that the girls had previously worked at the same shrimp factory. They had returned home for a few days and were reportedly on their way back to resume work when they were intercepted by the child protection officials.

Officials have also received information that several minor girls from Ganjam and other districts are allegedly working at the shrimp factory. Further investigation is underway to ascertain the extent of the alleged child labour and identify others involved in the recruitment and transportation of minors.