Bhubaneswar: The capital city is slowly also emerging as a hub of the world’s oldest profession – prostitution, triggering concern among the residents.
In the past five months, more than half a dozen sex rackets were busted from different locations in the city. This, however, appears to be just the tip of the iceberg, as the illegal activities are still going on unchecked in various parts of the city.
Driven by the overwhelming desire to earn fast money overnight, the pimps are running the rackets clandestinely from various locations. Although raids are conducted at regular intervals, they have failed to check growth of the flesh trade. On the other had it is also alleged that such raids are just an eyewash. 
In reality, the racket continues under the direct or indirect patronage of some police officials, sources claim. While those involved in the racket openly visit hotels, spas and massage centres, the police allegedly turn a blind eye, allegedly in return of monthly kickbacks. Raids are carried out only when the police do not receive the kickbacks on time.
Meanwhile, some of those involved in the trade have changed their modes operandi and that is to constantly change their area of operation to avoid being noticed by people in ngeneral and police in particular.
Sources said that many of the pimps contact their ‘customers’ directly without running the trade from rented houses, massage centres or spas. After finalising the deals, they send the girls to their perspective customers. Most of the deals are struck on roadsides.
Some of the areas where such activities are rampant include Rasulgarh-Vani Vihar over-bridge on the National Highway 5, which is just 500 metres away from the Sahid Nagar police station and the office of deputy commissioner of police (DCP). After dusk, a number of pimps make a beeline along the stretch in search of prospective customers. The pimps show photos of the girls to the customers and finalise the deals. Later, they bring the girls and send them with their customers. The racket continues from 7pm to till late night.
According to a close source, there are 13 girls in one such gang, which is active in Ragulgarh-Vani Vihar area. The girls sit in auto-rickshaws and wait for the customers. The police allegedly charged Rs 10,000 from each girl to keep quite.
However, most of the girls engaged in the flesh trade are doing it under compulsion or they have been tricked into it. Narrating her ordeal, a sex worker from Berhampur said, “Three years back, I came to Bhubaneswar in search of a job following death of my husband and subsequent harassment of my in-laws. While searching for a job, I came in contact with five pimps who kept on taking advantage of mine for more than two months by promising jobs. They captured my intimate photographs and pushed me into the flesh trade.”
This was not an isolated case. There are many instances of girls coming to the city in search of jobs and falling prey to pimps. Besides, some girls from other states and even a few foreigners are also involved in the flesh trade.
When contacted, DCP Satyabrata Bhoi said, “Raids are being conducted immediately and action taken whenever we receive a tip-off about the sex trades. We will keep the Rasulgarh-Vani Vihar stretch under close vigil and steps will be taken to stop these illegal activities.”
PNN
