Sex trade in Bhadrak: Undercover police operation leads to series raids, several detained

In an undercover operation, Bhadrak police on Saturday cracked down and apprehended several individuals involved in illicit activities including flesh trade across the city. During the series of events, police also rescued several women engaged as sex workers in various hotels.

Sources reported that police received intelligence reports about illegal activities at a hotel near the bypass under Bhadrak Town Police Station. Subsequently, Bhadrak City DSP Sambit Majhi carried out a sudden raid and apprehended several sex workers.

How did Bhadrak police carry out the operation?

The covert operation was carried out in disguise with a police officer posing as a customer, entering the hotel. He then also carried out initial negotiations following which a room was allotted to him along with a sex worker. Soon after, the police team stormed in, rescuing the sex worker and detaining hotel staff involved in the operation.

Based on further intelligence, authorities also searched additional hotel rooms where more individuals were suspected to be involved.

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The operation expanded to Charampa and Asura, on the city outskirts, where police carried out similar raids and arrested a man along with a sex worker from a tailoring shop’s restroom. Additionally, another woman involved in the trade, reportedly operating from a room of a well-known hotel chain, was also apprehended.

“Three places were raided today including a hotel. We have also received inputs about illegal activities going on in other places in the city and are in the process of verifying those reports,’ stated Bhadrak City DSP Sambit Majhi.

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Probe findings:

Investigations have revealed that sex workers have been operating from various hotels, private rooms, and rented houses in the district. Following this discovery, police have begun conducting raids at undisclosed locations.

Till the last reports came in, three sex workers and two men had been detained, with authorities making further interrogations and probes.