Panic at Baramunda Bus Stand: Three Women, Minor Girl Hide Under Buses to Escape Pursuers

Bhubaneswar: A dramatic incident unfolded late Monday night at Baramunda Bus Stand in Bhubaneswar when three young women and a minor girl were seen running in panic and hiding beneath parked buses to evade a group of women pursuing them. Eyewitnesses said the frightened girls rushed into the crowded bus terminal looking for a place to hide. With the pursuers closing in, they reportedly crawled underneath parked buses and remained there until security personnel intervened. The women chasing them allegedly identified themselves as members of an NGO involved in rescue and rehabilitation activities. However, the girls claimed they were being taken away against their will, leading to confusion and allegations of attempted abduction. Security staff at the bus stand quickly stepped in and rescued the girls from beneath the buses. They were subsequently handed over to the Baramunda Bus Stand police outpost for further inquiry.Police later shifted the three women and the minor girl to a temporary shelter home while investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. Authorities are examining CCTV footage from the bus terminal and nearby areas to establish the sequence of events and verify the identities and intentions of those involved. Officials noted that NGOs often conduct rescue operations involving minors and vulnerable individuals found begging or living on roadsides. Investigators suspect the girls may have been picked up earlier for rehabilitation purposes, but the fear displayed by them during the chase has raised several questions.The incident has sparked debate over the line between rescue and coercion, with authorities now working to determine whether it was a misunderstood rehabilitation effort or something more serious.

The investigation is ongoing.