Sex racket busted in Keonjhar; 5 detained, 5 women rescued

In a late-night operation on Sunday, Keonjhar police busted a sex racket operating within the Town Police Station limits. Acting on a credible tip-off, a special team raided a rented house suspected to be the center of illegal activity.
During the operation, five people were detained, and five young women were rescued from the premises.

How the Racket Operated

Preliminary investigations reveal that the accused had been running the racket for several months. They allegedly lured women with false promises of jobs and financial assistance before forcing them into the sex trade.

The victims, mostly from poor backgrounds, were reportedly brought in from different districts. Police suspect that the racket maintained contact with clients in nearby towns and cities, hinting at a larger organized network operating across the region.

Also Read: Four arrested in Bhubaneswar sex trafficking case; POCSO charges added

Investigation and Wider Crackdown

All five accused are currently being interrogated to trace the mastermind and other associates. Senior officers said that more arrests could follow as the investigation deepens. The rescued women have been shifted to a rehabilitation center where they are receiving counseling and medical care.

In a similar case, the Commissionerate Police in Bhubaneswar recently arrested four people, including the alleged mastermind, for their involvement in the rape and trafficking of a 17-year-old girl from Jharkhand. The arrests were made during an ongoing investigation led by Capital Police Station personnel.

Police have reaffirmed their commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks and ensuring strict legal action against those exploiting vulnerable women and minors across the state.