Himachal: Flesh trade racket busted in Kangra, 5 women rescued

A police team led by DSP Baldev Dutt raided Hotel JK International after getting a call from one of the women, who hails from Gurugram

Kangra police have busted a flesh trade racket and rescued five women allegedly held captive in a private hotel at Damtal, a small town in Nurpur subdivision on Himachal-Punjab border.

The victim was found locked in a room in the basement of the Kangra hotel while four others were rescued from the other room. (Image for representational purpose)

The kingpin and owner of the hotel and his two sons have been arrested. The accused have been identified as Janak Raj and his sons Akash and Vijay.

A police team led by DSP Baldev Dutt raided Hotel JK International after getting a call from one of the women, who hails from Gurugram.

The 27-year-old complainant alleged she was called to the hotel on the pretext of a receptionist’s job. She reached Chakki bridge of Pathankot on April 10, from where a person took her to the hotel.

She alleged that the hotel owner held her captive and sold her to a customer. When she objected, the hotel owner locked her in a room. She somehow managed to contact her family who alerted the police at Dharamshala.

The victim was found locked in a room in the basement of the hotel while four others were rescued from the other room.

Nurpur DSP Surinder Sharma said a case had been registered against the hotel owner and his two sons, and the police have also seized the CCTV footage from the hotel and other evidences.