PIONEER NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The police arrested four people in Dehradun for running a sex racket under the guise of a spa centre and rescued eight women after a raid on Monday.
The police uncovered the illegal operation during a surprise raid, exposing a prostitution ring functioning behind the front of a wellness business, the Dehradun senior superintendent of police Ajai Singh said. He informed that the operation was launched after he received confidential information about immoral activities taking place at a spa centre located on Chakrata Road. Following the tip-off, the SSP directed the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) to take action after which, a joint team of the AHTU and local police conducted a raid at Nature True Spa & Saloon in the wee hours of Monday.
He said that during the raid, the police team found two men and two women in compromising positions in separate rooms of the spa. Objectionable materials were also recovered from the scene. Based on the findings, the police immediately arrested four individuals, including the owner of the spa. They were identified as Anuj Singh who owns the spa, Sagar Chaudhary who was managing its operations and two customers Abhay Nayan and Vipin Dhankad, all belonging to Uttar Pradesh. A case has been registered against them at Cantt Police Station under sections 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
The SSP said that during interrogation, Anuj reportedly admitted that he had been operating the spa for some time and used platforms like Just Dial as well as direct phone calls to connect with customers. He would offer ‘special services’ for additional money and force the women working there into prostitution. The eight rescued women were safely handed over to their families following the raid, he added. This incident has once again highlighted the misuse of wellness centres in the city for illegal activities.
The SSP assured that strict action will continue against such establishments involved in human trafficking and immoral practices.
