Prostitution racket busted, 19 women rescued; 10 held

RUDRAPUR: As many as 19 women were rescued and 10 people were arrested after an organised prostitution racket operating under the guise of spa centres was busted in Udham Singh Nagar district, police said on Monday.Acting on the directions of SSP Ajay Ganpati, police launched a special drive under “Operation Prahaar” against illegal activities in spa centres. Based on intelligence inputs, public complaints and surveillance, police along with the anti-human trafficking unit conducted raids in Rudrapur, Pantnagar and Transit Camp areas late on Sunday night.Customers and operators were initially detained and, based on evidence, 10 spa operators – including Gaurav Sahu, Suraj Rathore, Arshad, Rohit Chhabra, Sanu, Adil, Omprakash, Aseem, Nasir and Mohit – were arrested. Other accused, including Mohammad Shakeel, spa operator Gurmeet and Amit Kumar, are on the run.A total of five FIRs were registered Monday at Rudrapur and Pantnagar police stations under BNS Section 143 (trafficking) and provisions of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. In Pantnagar, three separate cases were lodged against illegal spa centres operating in a mall on Nainital highway. Two spa centres in the Transit Camp area were fined Rs 20,000 under the Police Act for lapses in employee verification and record maintenance.Police said the rescued women have been placed under protective care, and their medical examination, counselling and rehabilitation are being carried out in coordination with agencies concerned.“We are committed to eliminating organised crime and immoral activities. No individual or establishment found violating the law will be spared under Operation Prahaar,” said the SSP.