Mumbai crime branch rescues two trafficked women, minor from flesh trade in Sakinaka

20 minor girls have been rescued from the flesh trade so far this year

The social service (SS) branch of the Mumbai crime branch raided the Om Sai Guest House on the Andheri-Kurla Road in Sakinaka and rescued two women who were trafficked into Mumbai and allegedly pushed into the flesh trade, on Tuesday around 3.50 pm. They also rescued a minor girl from Kolkata, taking the total of minor girls rescued so far this year to 20.

The survivors have been sent to a shelter home. (HT File Photo)

The survivors have been sent to a shelter home. The men who pushed them into this racket were arrested under the Human Trafficking Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.

The police arrested the middleman, manager and cashier of the guest house and seized about Rs13, 970 and three phones from the spot. The police are in the process of tracing a conductor, female middleman and the owner of the guest house.

“We are focusing on ensuring that no minor girls are trafficked into the city and pushed into the flesh trade. We have rescued 20 so far. Last year, we rescued 23 minor girls in this period. Anyone having information on cases — in which minors are pushed into the flesh trade or manual labour — must contact the police on 100 or 022-22622775,” said Pravinkumar Patil, deputy commissioner of police, enforcement.

In both cases, the accused were booked under section 370 A (exploitation of a trafficked person) and 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Indian Penal Code, sections 4, 5, 6, 7(1)(B) of the Immoral Trafficking Prevention Act and sections 4,6,8,17 of POCSO by the Saki Naka and Dahisar police. The sections amount to human trafficking for flesh trade, sexual harassment and sexual assault on minors.