Post News Network
Cuttack, June 21: The CDA and Bidanasi areas of Cuttack have become safe havens for flesh trade with several rackets running their trade unhindered.
Pimps have been engaged in brisk business in the two posh localities for the past couple of years. They have been sourcing women from the neighbouring states including West Bengal.
According to sources, multi-storied buildings and new apartments in CDA and Bidanasi are being used as hubs for flesh trade. Pimps are sourcing women from Burdwan, Sonagachhi and 24 Pragana areas of West Bengal through their trusted aides. “Pimps engage youths to escort high profile call girls from the city railway station to some multi-storied buildings in CDA and Bidanasi. They charge anywhere between `5,000 and `25,000 from customers for the service,” said a source.
Pimps use social media to man the racket. They send photographs of call girls and their tariff to perspective customers through social media. “A customer is asked to reach a particular spot after selecting the girl. An agent of the pimp escorts the customer to the call girl after collecting the money,” said a CDA local.
Police rescued three girls from an apartment in Sector 10 of CDA during a raid August 19, 2013. Sources said the kingpin was supervising the business on the pretext of providing coaching for competitive examinations. Police had busted the high-profile sex racket in CDA area June 17, 2012 and nabbed six persons including three women from Bengal.
Locals have blamed lack of proper patrolling and half-hearted police action for the sex rackets in CDA sectors. “Police should intensify patrolling in the locality and ask landlords to furnish details of their tenants,” Lion’s Club of Cuttack president Satyajit Mahapatra.
A few intellectuals have also blamed limited social relation among house owners of CDA area for the rise in crimes in the posh locality. “There is virtually no social relation among families residing in CDA and Bidanasi. So, some people find it easy to run sex rackets in the multi-storied buildings of the locality,” said advocate Khirod Rout.
Markatnagar police in-charge Bimal Chandra Barik said they are conducting raids on suspicious apartments and buildings.
“We had busted a sex racket at Sector 10 a couple of months ago and arrested five persons including two women from West Bengal,” said Phase-II police in-charge Dillip Swain.