Sleaze racket busted in Garia, 14 arrested

Kolkata: A sleaze racket was busted in the posh area of Garia on Saturday night, in which 14 persons, including women, were arrested.

Acting on a tip-off, the Anti Women Trafficking department of the city police raided an apartment at Battala area of Garia and arrested the accused. Among the accused, there were some customers who were found in a compromising situation inside a rented house.

According to police, the racket had been operating from a rented flat, where a diagnostic centre used to be operated. Police said that among the arrested were some sex workers, a manager, touts and the customers.

During preliminary investigation, police came to know that the manager had rented the flat.

The owner of the house, however, told police during interrogation that he did not have any clue about the incident. Police have started a detailed probe in this regard.

Police have seized liquor bottles and some hard cash from the room. In the course of investigation, they also came to know that the sleaze racket had been operating there for quite a long time.

The investigation revealed that the arrested sex workers, aged between 21 and 27, used to visit some other places in the city as well. They are being interrogated in this connection.

Police had received a complaint from the local people, saying that certain "illegal" activities had been taking place inside the flat.

On the basis of the information, police raided the flat on Saturday. They are trying to know the names of others involved.

Some of the policemen went to the flat, posing as prospective customers and caught the accused red-handed.

Police have started a case under the Immoral Trafficking Act. Police suspect that many other persons might have been involved with the racket.