As many as 35 young women from Chhattisgarh have allegedly been held captive in Jharkhand after being lured with false promises of jobs in the nursing sector, according to reports on Saturday. Reports claim most of the victims hail from the Kanker district, and had travelled to Garhwa in Jharkhand to secure the purported jobs.

As per initial reports, the women were imparted basic training upon arrival. However, when they ran out of money, they alleged that they were confined against their will.

Video released by a victim triggers alarm

The incident came to light when one of the victims recorded a video and sent it to an acquaintance, pleading for help. In the video, she claimed that several girls were being kept in conditions resembling captivity and were not permitted to leave the premises.

The acquaintance of the victim shared the video with her family, who escalated the issue to the district administration. The footage drew swift intervention from the authorities.

A screengrab from the video released by the victim

Administration plunges into action

Kanker Collector Nilesh Kumar Kshirsagar said that the district administration has taken cognisance of the incident. He added that several girls from Kanker and nearby areas had travelled to Garhwa for nursing-related work and training, but complaints of unlawful confinement have emerged now. He said, “We are in touch with the Garhwa district administration regarding the issue. Efforts are underway to ensure the girls’ safe return.”

Additionally, Women and Child Development Minister Laxmi Rajwade has acknowledged the gravity of the case, affirming that administrative action is underway at multiple levels.

Police spring into action too

Following directives from the Collector, police teams have also sprung into action, and have mounted a probe to determine how the girls were recruited and transported to Jharkhand.

The cops are also examining whether an organised network is involved in trafficking or job fraud. Families of victims have appealed to the government to act immediately and ensure the safe rescue, as well as return of their daughters.