Police bust sex racket in Thane; 5 Bangladeshi nationals among 6 held | Thane News – Times of India

NEW DELHI/THANE: Thane Police announced the dismantling of a sex trafficking operation in the Kalyan region in Maharashtra, resulting in the apprehension of five individuals from Bangladesh and one additional suspect on Monday.
PTI quoted deputy commissioner of police (Zone III Kalyan) Sachin Gunjal as reporting the successful rescue of seven Bangladeshi women who had been held captive and coerced into the sex trade.
On October 5, a representative of an NGO from Bangladesh reached out to a social organization based in Pune, conveying information that an individual from their neighboring country had lured a 19-year-old woman with promises of employment.
Tragically, the woman was subsequently held against her will in Hetutne village and coerced into prostitution.
In response to this information, a team from the Manpada police station in Dombivli swiftly arrived at the designated location on October 6th.
Upon arrival, they discovered the victim, along with six other women, who were being held captive in a room and subjected to forced participation in the sex trade, as reported by the official.
The police stated that these women were originally brought to India from Bangladesh with promises of employment, only to be subsequently coerced into engaging in the sex trade against their will.
The police had received information regarding the possible presence of some of the accused men in a nearby locality.
However, the suspects became aware of the police’s approach and managed to escape into a forested area outside Angarli village, as reported by the official.
After requesting additional reinforcements, the police conducted an extensive combing operation throughout the night and successfully apprehended five of the accused individuals.
All of them were Bangladeshi nationals falling within the age range of 24 to 40 years, as reported by the official.
Additionally, the police arrested a 31-year-old individual who was the owner of the room that had been rented out to the accused, as stated by the official.
In the search of the accused’s room, the police made several seizures, including 25 suspected Aadhaar cards, 10 PAN cards, four birth certificates, as well as currency notes from both India and Bangladesh.
However, the specific monetary amount was not disclosed.
The accused have been charged under pertinent sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, the Passport (Entry into India) Rules, and the Foreigners Act, according to the police.
With agency inputs