Balasore: Amidst rise in footfall in tourism season, a sting operation has exposed rampant flesh trade in several areas of Balasore district raising questions over the role of police in the matter.
As per the exclusive report by OTV, several sex rackets involving pimps and girls especially from West Bengal have been found running in hotels and guest houses at Talsari, Bhogarai, Sahabajipur, Udaipur areas.
Despite complaints against the sex racket on multiple occasions followed by arrest of sex workers and customers by police, the illegal trade still continues. Different houses have turned dens for flesh trade on the pretext of running hotel business.
A video from Jaleswar station bazaar area which is in possession of OTV shows how a pimp tries to strike a deal with a customer by introducing him to a sex worker. The video sheds light on the ground zero reality of the flesh trade.
After disclosure of the matter, residents of Jaleswar have blamed the local administration for inaction and also alleged the involvement of police.
“This is happening right under the nose of district administration and police so we suspect that there might be a deal between the cops and all those who are involved in the racket,” said a local resident of Jaleswar.
Some residents also cited that girls are often resorting to prostitution to earn huge amount of money and lead a luxurious life which is why there has been a rising trend of illegal flesh trade.
Responding to the reports of increasing flesh trade, Jaleswar SDPO Umesh Panda said, "Since this is a picnic season many tourists are coming to Jaleswar and Bhogarai. We have directed IICs and in-charges to regularly conduct patrolling in the area. We are working towards the cases about which we have received information."
Speaking on the issue, social worker Namrata Chaddha said, “Such sex racket are being run by people who are bringing girls from other states like West Bengal as they can easily operate in clandestine manner in a different state. The video is a proof how reproductive health of such girls is being affected by such flesh trade.”
Former Police DG S N Tiwari said, “I have seen many cases where cops are involved. Multiple teams should be constituted to probe such cases and police department should be more responsible when it comes to handling such cases.”