Derabish: Acting over a slew of allegations regarding a sex racket being operated on the premises of the community health centre (CHC) here, police Friday conducted a raid on the residential quarters of a woman health worker and rescued a minor girl who was allegedly forced into the flesh trade.
Residents alleged the woman health worker’s son has been running the sex racket with the help of 108 ambulance staff and other CHC employees. Their modus operandi was to first build a good rapport with young women visiting the CHC and then manage somehow to take their intimate pictures. Later, they would blackmail the women and force them into the flesh trade. None of the victims raised their voice against their exploitation, fearing social humiliation, sources said.
As the racket continued to spread its tentacles on the hospital premises, word soon got out leading to the area becoming synonymous with a red-light area, aggrieved residents said in a complaint to Derabish inspector-in-charge Niranjan Shabar.
Acting on a tip-off, Shabar and his men raided the quarters and rescued a girl. Police seized several objectionable material and smartphones containing several intimate pictures of the victim.
Police, who launched an investigation into the matter, said a number of criminals are involved in the flesh trade.
The girl is meanwhile being questioned at the police station regarding her knowledge of the entire operation.
Meanwhile, residents also complained to CHC officer Tapan Kumar Sahu and the chief district medical officer alleging poor healthcare services and negligence by hospital staff.
When contacted, Sahu said the quarters have been allotted only to hospital employees, who have been staying there with their families. He said he was not aware of any sex racket functioning in one of the residential quarters.
Sahu however vowed stringent action against anyone who is found guilty during the course of the investigation.
According to the residents, they had lodged several complaints with the police regarding the sex racket at the health centre. However, police could not take any measures to bust the racket due to lack of evidence. PNN
