Berhampur, Feb 14: Two individuals, including a man from Tamil Nadu, have been arrested by Odisha Police for allegedly trafficking and exploiting three migrant workers from Ganjam district. The accused have been identified as Khirod Tandi (28), a resident of Palnagar in Balangir district, who was living in Mangalam, Tiruppur, Tamil Nadu, and Karthi (24) from Nagaratham, Tamil Nadu.

The arrests were made after the victims were rescued by a police team from Digapahandi, Odisha, in collaboration with Tamil Nadu Police. The accused were apprehended from Karumathampatti in Coimbatore and later brought to Berhampur, where they were produced before the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court in Digapahandi.

According to Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M, the investigation revealed that the accused lured the three migrant workers – B Budu Reddy (32), B Purna Reddy (30), and S Dhoba Reddy (31), all from Laxmi Narayanpur, Digapahandi block – by promising them higher wages in Tamil Nadu. However, upon arrival, the workers were subjected to inhumane treatment. The accused allegedly confined them to a room in Tiruppur, denied them adequate food and wages, and physically assaulted them.

The victims were rescued from Nagapattinam on February 11, following a coordinated operation between the Digapahandi Police and Tamil Nadu Police. The case is under further investigation.