By NE NOW NEWS
Aizawl: Mizoram Police, in coordination with the Women and Child Development Department and Uttarakhand Police, have rescued five Mizo women, including two minors, from an alleged sex trafficking racket operating under the guise of a spa in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand.
Six persons, including the alleged mastermind and spa owner, have been arrested in connection with the case, Mizoram Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) H. Ramthlengliana said in a statement on Thursday.
According to police, the racket came to light after a survivor escaped and lodged an FIR at the All Women Police Station in Aizawl on May 1.
The complainant alleged that she and her friend were lured to Uttarakhand with the promise of legitimate employment at Beauty Queen Salon and Spa in Rudrapur, with a monthly salary of Rs 20,000.
She stated that they travelled to Uttarakhand in October last year after the spa owner arranged and financed their journey. However, on reaching the establishment, they were allegedly forced into prostitution and told that “extra services” for clients were mandatory to receive their wages.
The victim further alleged that they were made to attend to three to nine customers daily and were often forced to consume alcohol and intoxicating substances before meeting clients.
Despite the exploitation, they reportedly did not receive the promised salary. Instead, deductions were made for food, accommodation and travel, with only around Rs 500 a month allegedly given for personal expenses.
The complaint also stated that attempts to leave were repeatedly blocked, with the premises allegedly locked to prevent escape. On April 4, the women managed to break the gate lock and flee, returning to Aizawl three days later, where they filed the FIR.
Following the complaint, a case was registered under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by the Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO), Aizawl South, was constituted to probe the case.
Acting on inputs that more Mizo women were still trapped, a joint team of Mizoram Police and the Women and Child Development Department travelled to Uttarakhand on May 4 and conducted a raid at the spa premises in coordination with Rudrapur Police the following day.
During the raid, five Mizo women, including two minors, were rescued from the facility.
Ramthlengliana said another case has been registered at Rudrapur police station and six persons, including the spa owner, alleged mastermind, a Mizo woman aide and another female associate, have been arrested.
The rescued women are currently under the care of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Rudrapur, where they are receiving medical attention and trauma counselling. Efforts are underway to repatriate them to Mizoram, police said.