Behampur, Mar 6: In a major crackdown on child exploitation in Odisha, Berhampur Police on Thursday rescued nine minors and arrested five persons for allegedly forcing children to beg at busy traffic junctions in Berhampur.

According to police, the accused used auto-rickshaws to transport the children to PVN Rao Chhak, where they were made to beg under the supervision of adults. Acting on inputs and after gathering evidence, police detained the accused along with the children.

The rescued minors include a 12-year-old girl, an 8-year-old boy, a 7-year-old girl, a 5-year-old boy, two children aged around 2.5 years, a 4-year-old boy, another 7-year-old boy, and a four-month-old infant.

The arrested persons have been identified as Mani Sindhe (65), Ajaya Kajri Sindhe (30), Rani Sindhe (30), Puja Power (20), and Sita Power (40). Police said they were staying under a flyover near Platform 4 of the Berhampur Railway Station and failed to produce valid identity documents or proof of relationship with the children. Their identities are currently under verification.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused regularly brought the children to major traffic points in Berhampur, forced them to beg, and later collected the money from them.

The rescued minors have been handed over to child welfare authorities for care and rehabilitation. The accused were arrested on March 4 and later produced before a court.

Police registered a case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Section 76 of the Juvenile Justice Act. The operation was led by the Town SDPO with support from officials of the Town Subdivision, District Child Protection Unit, and the Child Welfare Committee.

Police said strict action will continue against those involved in exploiting minors and added that surveillance against such rackets will be intensified across the city.