SAMBALPUR: A day after the two minor girls, Anjali and Jyoti Naik, denied that they were neither minors nor were sold by their parents, their school records proved their claims to be false.
The Sambalpur unit of Childline found out that Anjali was born on July 15, 1998 and is 17-years-old while her younger sister Jyoti’s date of birth is June 12, 2003. She is aged 12. “Their age was ascertained from Mudipada Upper Primary School where the girls had enrolled before dropping out,” said Centre Coordinator of Childline, Sambalpur Jadumani Kumbhar.
Childline has lodged a complaint with Town Police on Tuesday demanding action against the girls’ parents Manbhula Naik and Prabhasini besides Durgesini Turia who had brokered the deal, said Kumbhar. They have urged police to register a case under Section 9, 11 and 12 of Child Marriage Prohibition Act, 2006 besides 366 (A) and 370 IPC and requested the Child Marriage Prohibition Officer-cum Child Development Programme Officer to take action at the earliest, Kumbhar added.
The girls’ elder sister Pushpa Saha and brother Sanatan Naik had filed a complaint against their parents at Sambalpur Town police station on June 27. They alleged in the complaint that Jyoti Naik (13) and Anjali Naik (14) were sold by their parents to an unknown woman for `20,000 in Pathria of Madhya Pradesh on June 1.
Additional SP Sushil Kumar Panigrahi said on the direction of SDJM Court, Jyoti and Anjali have been sent to short stay home and investigation is underway.
A four-member team of Sambalpur Police brought the girls back from Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday. While Jyoti was traced to Pipargiachouda under Bonda police limits, Anjali was found at Suakar under Gadabuta police limits, both in Sagar district. Jyoti was married to Tikaram Lodi (23) and Anjali’s husband is Manoj Dubey (30).
On the other hand, members of Paschim Odisha Nari Surakhya Adhikar Manch staged a demonstration outside the official chamber of Collector Balwant Singh here on Wednesday demanding stern action against the broker and parents of the two minor girls. They also submitted a memorandum to Singh and held discussion with him on steps to check women trafficking and action against middleman.
The Manch also demanded protection for the complainants, Pushpa Saha and Sanatan Naik, children of Manbhula and Hemlata Sani, Manbhula’s sister. In fact, it was the Manch which had supported the trio to lodge complaint with the police and had helped them.