Twenty-four girls were rescued from a shelter home in Deoria after allegation of sexual exploitation of the inmates came to light, prompting the UP government to swing into a damage control mode by removing the district magistrate and ordering a high-level probe. Police said three people, including a couple, who ran the shelter, were arrested in connection with the matter.

"Twenty-four girls were rescued on Sunday from the shelter home at station road in the name of Ma Vindhyawasini Mahila Prakishan Evam Samaj Sewa Sansthan, which has 42 inmates. Eighteen inmates are still missing. We have sealed it," SP Rohan P Kanay said.