Mira Bhayander: Cops bust sex racket running via WhatsApp

The anti-human trafficking unit (AHTU) of the Mira Bhayandar-Vasai Virar (MBVV) police has busted yet another high-profile prostitution racket and arrested one woman in Mira Road on Thursday evening. The accused woman used social messaging platforms including-WhatsApp application to communicate with other pimps and their potential clients by sharing photographs of women they had to offer for the rendezvous.

Acting on a tip-off about immoral trafficking of women in the twin-city, a team comprising Police Sub Inspector- Tejashri Shinde and ASI-Umesh Patil under the supervision of Police Inspector- Devidas Handore established contact with the woman through a decoy customer. The 39-year-old woman pimp responded by sending photographs of girls on WhatsApp. After striking the deal, the decoy informed the police following which a trap was laid in the Kanakia area of Mira Road and apprehended the woman. Three women who according to the police were forced into prostitution activities were also rescued from the clutches of the racketeer.

In her statement to the police, the accused confessed that she gave preference to some particular lodges in the region for the immoral activities. A case under section 370 of the IPC and relevant sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) has been registered against the woman who has been remanded to custody. The rescued women have been shifted to a rehabilitation centre. Further investigations were underway to find out the lodges which were encouraging the pimps by facilitating space for the illegal activities.