Overview

• On June 7, district police and an NGO carried out raids in Barauli, Machrihatta and Ratansarai, freeing 14 underage girls from orchestra dance groups.
• Officials said most of the rescued girls were trafficked from Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to perform in these troupes.
• Orchestra operator Rakesh Singh was arrested during the operation and has been formally charged in connection with the exploitation.
• Authorities have registered a case and launched a broader investigation to identify and apprehend other operators involved.
• This operation follows a similar May rescue in Saran district that freed 17 minors, underscoring a sustained crackdown on child exploitation in Bihar.