Cuttack: An organised racket in women trafficking was busted here with the arrest of nine persons from Cuttack Sadar area, police said.
With the arrests made yesterday, the number of arrested persons in the case rose to 12, police said.
Earlier, Cuttack Sadar police had arrested three persons, including the mastermind, one Mana Dalei of Athgarh area, who is married and whose wife resides in Jhansi.
Police said innocent girls and women were sent to Jhansi from Sadar area for various nefarious activities, including commercial sexual activities and forced labour, forced marriage, domestic servitude and begging.
Human trafficking, particularly of women and young girls, from the state is rampant.
In order to combat this crime, an Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking unit was recently launched in the State crime branch police headquarters here.