Notwithstanding the crackdown on illicit flesh trade racket yet the culprits are operating it with no fear to law.
In a fresh crackdown, Mumbai busted the illegal flesh trade racket where young women from all over the country were lured to Navi Mumbai under the pretext of jobs. Instead, were pushed into prostitution. In the bust, police rescued 17 women in the operation and arrested nine accused.
As per police officials, investigations were first initiated into the matter when one of the victims approached them on August 4 this year. The woman told them that she came from a financially backward family and that the accused had promised to get her job as domestic help in Mumbai. Relying on their promise, the girl agreed to take up the job and reached the men Navi Mumbai to meet the employer.
Once she reached there, she was forced into flesh trade and found that there were others like her. The accused forcibly send them to meet customers in hotels and lodges in various parts of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai and take away all their earnings according to crime branch officers.
The victim’s statement was recorded and the Anti Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) was instructed to look into the matter.
Based on the information received from the victim, four teams of the AHTC conducted coordinated raids at different locations in the Shirona village in Nerul and rescued 17 victims along with the younger brother of one of the women. Nine pimps who were operating the illegal prostitution racket were arrested.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detection) Balsing Rajput identified two more people, who believed to be the masterminds of the racket. They are absconding and efforts are underway to trace and apprehend them. We are also finding out how long the racket had been running.
The rescued women were subsequently sent to a shelter home for rehabilitation. They hail from various states in India and the process of contacting their families has been initiated.
The accused have been charged with human trafficking, wrongful confinement, assault and criminal intimidation under the Indian Penal Code, along with relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act.
