Mumbai activist accuses police of sheltering pimps

KOLKATA: In a strongly worded letter to the CM, Mumbai-based social activist Anson Thomas, who had rescued a minor from Sonagachhi last Thursday, has alleged that a section of Burtolla police station officers are hand-in-glove with the flesh traders.
Narrating his harassment at police hands, he has sent a copy of the letter to the President.
Thomas believed there was a nexus between some cops and the brothel keeper, as the rescue was not properly planned though there was enough time.
The other point mentioned in his letter is that the relevant sections of Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act were not applied. "The O-C started shouting at me and said he would apply only one section of the IPC."
DC (North) P.Ravi said the law is applicable for people who are into immoral trafficking not minor victims. “The minor was rescued so we booked a case under section 373 IPC,� he said. The section pertains to buying a minor for prostitution and has a penalty of 10 years in prison. Ravi said the activist would not heed to it.
Anson alleged the OC was also reluctant to send the rescued girl to a home immediately. She was forced to spend the night at Lalbazaar with the two accused, Thomas alleged. Ravi refuted this.
“Why would be a rescued minor be kept with two accused? There is no question of keeping all three together. That is illegal and these are false allegations,� Anson urged the CM to investigate into the assets of the officer and the calls on his cellphone on the day of the incident.
“These police officers act worse than terrorists,� the letter said. Even the DC (DD-I) spoke to Thomas at length the day after he rescued the minor. Anson said the police were more interested in his credentials than his efforts.
“I am a law abiding citizen and request the DC (DD-1) to interrogate the accused rather than me,� an aggrieved Thomas wrote.
Ravi said they welcome initiatives by people to rescue minors forced into flesh trade. “But that does not necessarily mean that they would level false allegations. The police had not erred in this case,� Ravi contended.