Kandhamal district officials on Tuesday conducted a raid on the Jihabajiri Janakalyan Ashram at Bastingia under the Chakapada police station and rescued 19 children, who were allegedly being tortured.
The rescued children include three girls and are in the age group of 5-10 years. While eight belong to Mayurbhanj district, one to the Baliguda area and 10 to the Raikia area in Kandhamal district, officials said.
The children told the officials that the Ashram authorities were not providing them with proper food and forcing them to collect firewood from the forest and graze goats.The sevashram had been illegally running since 1998. Further enquiries would be conducted and appropriate action would be taken against its owner Sunil Kumar Digal, said the officials overseeing the case.