Guwahati: In a crackdown on alleged human trafficking, police in Arunachal Pradesh rescued seven women and arrested two persons during a coordinated operation in Banderdewa.
According to Naharlagun SP Nyelam Nega, the action followed specific inputs, leading to raids at two establishments — NK Lodge and Lovely Lodging, where the women were allegedly being exploited for sexual work.
Police said the rescued women, most of whom are from Assam, were from economically vulnerable backgrounds and had been lured into the trade under false promises.
NK Lodge, owned by Kuru Richo and leased to Nazrul Islam, the manager, Moina Das, allegedly admitted during questioning that all six rooms of the premises had been used for trafficking-related activities over the past eight months.
In a similar case, Lovely Lodging, owned by Nalo alias Tagin Baido, had been leased to Tate Taha and subsequently sub-leased to Fardaus Ahmed. During interrogation, Ahmed is said to have admitted that the premises had been used for such activities for the past three to four months.
Police said the accused brought women from Assam and engaged them in sex work at the lodgings.
Moina Das (34), a resident of Dhemaji district, and Fardaus Ahmed (35), from Morigaon district in Assam, have been arrested. Both have been booked under relevant provisions of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, along with other applicable laws.