A 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly sold off by her step-parents to a Kendrapara-based person, was rescued from Srikakulam by the City Police on Friday.
Sanjay Das, who had reportedly paid Rs 50,000 to the girl’s parents, had married her at a temple on the outskirts of the City.
Police have arrested the girl’s parents, Sanjay as well as his father.
The girl, who hails from Mayurbhanj’s Badabelakothi village under Khunta police limits, was studying in a school at Rasulgarh.
She was staying with her aunt for her education for the last two years.
On July 10, the girl’s parents took her back and handed her over to Sanjay at Pattamundai.
Sanjay brought the girl to Saptasati temple where he forcibly married her on July 11. Then he took her to Srikakulam, police said.
However, the girl mustered courage and telephoned a friend in Bhubaneswar to inform that her parents had allegedly sold her off to Sanjay for Rs 50,000. She asked her friend to pass on the information to the school headmaster who in turn told the Mahila Police Station.
A team proceeded to Srikakulam on July 12 and rescued the girl. Sanjay and his father Subas were arrested. Later, the victim’s parents were also held.
A case under Sections 342, 366, 494, 495, 506 and 34 of Indian Penal Code along with Sections 4 and 6 of Child Marriage Restraints Act has been lodged.