Metro Impact :Brhampur Police Busted Begging Practice by Minors , Arrested Five “ Vanjara” Racket (!).
Manoj Kanta Dash
editor,Odishabarta
Berhampur,( 05/03/26):In a major crackdown, Berhampur police team busted a e child begging racket operating in Berhampur City of Ganjam, on Thursday.
By the instruction from the superintendent of police the Town Police rescued nine children and arrested five persons “Vanjara”.The juveniles, allegedly forced to beg at traffic signals.
On 3rd,March a police team was formed under the leadership of SDPO Town involving officers from police stations of Town Subdivision, District Child Protection Unit Ganjam and CWC.
There was a gang operating with minor children who were begging at PVN Rao Chhak in city who were watched and guarded by some adults( Vanjara ).
During investigation a police team secretly watched their movements and found that in the morning the gang of adults came with children in a auto and got down little before the PVN Rao signal and walked to the signal and started to beg.
The adults who came with the Juveniles in the auto went to the side and watched the kids who were begging.
After gathering enough evidence against the adults , Police team detained the adults along with the Juveniles who were begging.And also, it is ascertained that the accused persons are staying under the flyover near the Platform 4 of the Berhampur railway station and every day they brought the children and leave them in the various major traffic post of Berhampur town and forced them for begging and the adults collected money from the Children.
On verification by Police , the adults were failed to produce any valid identity cards such as Aadhar Card or Voter ID they failed to provide any valid identity as well as to the relation with the rescued children whom they claimed as their children or relation.
However,on through interrogation of the accused persons, they disclosed their name and address as mentioned above but they failed to provide any IDs to prove their identity and address. they were conversant in Hindi .
Accused Details:
1. Mani Sindhe (65Yrs) W/o- Late Goindi Sindhe
2. Ajaya Kajri Sindhe (30Yrs) S/o- Late Goindi Sindhe
3.e baby Rani Sindhe (30Yrs) W/o- Siba Sindhe (with one child)
4. Puja Power (20Yrs) W/o- Late Goutam Power (with 02 children)
5. Sita Power (40) W/o- Late Nagesh Power
All are residing below the flyover present near the 4th Platform of Berhampur Railway station under Gosani Nuagan Police station, Berhampur. Verification of their identities are going on.
The adults who are accused persons neither disclosed their proper identities as well as of that of the
Children Rescued (Victim):
1. 12 yr old girl child
2. 8 yr old boy
3. 7 yr old girl.
4. 5 yr old boy
5. 2.5 yr old boy
6. 7 yr old boy
7. 4 yr old boy
8. 2.5 yr old girl
9. 4 months old mal
Legal aspects;
Case Reference: Berhampur Town PS Case No – 92 dt 03.03.2026U/s 143(5)/139(3)/3(5) BNS R/W Sec 76 Juvenile Justice Act.
Provisions: The accused were charged under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)—specifically sections related to exploiting minors (143(5), 139(3), and 3(5))—read with Section 76 of the Juvenile Justice Act.
Modus Operandi: The adults would transport the children in auto-rickshaws to busy locations like PVN Rao Chhak, monitor them from a distance, and collect the money the children earned, according to Berhampur SP Saravana Vivek M.
The accused failed to produce valid identification, and investigation into their identities and the possible trafficking angle is ongoing.
Accused persons were arrested on 4 March and forwarded to hon’ble court.
The rescued Juveniles were produced in front of Child Welfare Committee for their rehabilitation.
