PUDUCHERRY: A child prostitution racket was busted and four persons, including three women, who used minor girls to run the racket have been arrested in Puducherry.
CB-CID inspector A Khahisadasaam said the arrested persons were identified as Gayatri (22) of Kumaragurupallam, Pushpa (25), of Thavalakuppam, Rahman Khan of Thavalakuppam and Arogyamary (70) of Savarirayalu Street. He said the arrests were made following a complaint by chairperson of the Child welfare Committee Dr Vidyaa Ramkumar.
Dr Vidyaa told Express that two minor girls (14 years of age) managed to escape from the clutches of the accused and contacted the CWC, along with their parents. After recording thestatements the CWC lodged a complaint with Director General of Police P Kamaraj.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused were involved in child trafficking and child prostitution. Their modus operandi was to lure the minors with the promise of a good and lavish life. Once they were roped in the minors were given drinks laced with drugs and told to go with the customers in the houses. Video grabs of these minors were kept to be used to blackmail them if they tried to go back to a normal life.
The 70-year-old lady is suspected to be the kingpin of the racket, which has been going on for some time. The police suspect that more persons might be involved and a clear picture will emerge only after investigation.
The two children were counselled and their statements recorded by probationary officer Bhanumathi and protection officer Jagatheesh. They are now in child care homes and one of them wants to continue her studies. The accused were produced before Principal District and Sessions judge C S Murugan, who remanded them to judicial custody.