Police have rescued 17 minors from an orchestra-and-dance troupe in Bihar’s Saran district, bringing the total number of such rescues this year to 162.

According to Saran Superintendent of Police (SP) Kumar Ashish, the girls were rescued in raids conducted across Mashrak, Panapur and Isuapur police station areas Friday morning. The minors were allegedly part of troupes that in local parlance perform arkestra (a transliteration of the English word ‘orchestra’), which investigators say are fronts used to force minors into prostitution.

“We received information that girls were being forced to dance in orchestras and were subjected to inappropriate acts,” the SP said.

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Of those rescued, eight were from West Bengal, four from Odisha, two from Jharkhand and Delhi, and one from Bihar, the officer said, adding that the operation was led by the Women’s Police Station and conducted with support of local police teams and members of nonprofit organisations such as Mission Mukti Foundation, Rescue Foundation (Delhi) and Narayani Sewa Sansthan (Saran).

“We are in touch with their families and are providing all necessary legal assistance. The girls will be presented before the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) for further action,” the SP said.

A case has been registered at the Women’s police station.

“So far, five orchestra organisers have been detained. They are being questioned,” SP said.

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According to the police, the minors were typically lured with the promise of money and employment. “Some girls are also enticed with the promise of fame on social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook… Since May 2024, we have rescued 162 minor girls and reunited them with their families. We have registered 21 cases and arrested 56 accused individuals, all of whom have been remanded to judicial custody,” the SP said, adding that the district police was using its ‘Awaaz Do’ programme to help raise awareness.

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

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