Latest news with #AHTU
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Nine arrested in Madhapur prostitution ring; nine victims, including two foreign nationals rescued
Nine individuals, including organisers and supervisors, were arrested for operating an organised prostitution racket in Madhapur by the Cyberabad police. The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) conducted a raid on BSR Super Luxury and Living Hotel on Wednesday, August 13 and also rescued nine victims. Among the victims, seven were from different States across India including West Bengal (2), Delhi (2), Jharkhand (1), Haryana (1), Punjab (1), while two were foreign nationals from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The accused were identified as Hamer Singh alias Amid Singh, organiser, Thammi Srinivas, supervisor, Pokala Venkateshwarlu, Bekmetova Gulshat, Rakhmanova Malika alias Lovina Bora, Lakshman Tumu, Akash Bajaj, Gora Mohammed Wasim, and K. Parthiban. Investigation revealed that the accused were procuring women from various regions, advertising on platforms such as Locanto and Skokka, and arranging encounters in hotels and Oyo rooms. The Madhapur police registered a case under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and the Foreigners Act, 1946 and initiated an investigation. Authorities have issued a public warning urging vulnerable individuals not to fall prey to offers of easy money or trafficking under the guise of legitimate jobs. Hotel and property owners are advised to verify identity documents and check the backgrounds of tenants and guests. Citizens with information about illegal activities are encouraged to contact local police, Dial 100, or report via WhatsApp at 9490617444.
Hans India
3 days ago
- Hans India
Mumbai: Violated for 3 months, Bangladeshi minor rescued from flesh trade racket; 12 held
Mumbai: A Bangladeshi minor girl, subjected to brutal sexual abuse and violation for three months across Maharashtra, was rescued by the Maharashtra police and at least 12 persons with direct involvement in the flesh trade racket were apprehended. The racket, operating from Naigaon near Vasai, about 50 km from Mumbai, sent shockwaves across the city as shocking details emerged about her sexual exploitation and torture for over three months, reportedly by more than 200 men. The prostitution racket, when busted by Mumbai police, revealed that the Bangladeshi girl was pushed into the flesh trade by forging her documents, and the human trafficking gang also involved some female members. Speaking to IANS, a police official shared the modus operandi of racketeers and how they trapped the minor girl into prostitution. Assistant Commissioner of Police Madan Ballal, from the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) Police Commissionerate, described the case as both serious and sensitive due to the minor's involvement. "We have rescued two victims, one a 14-year-old minor and another aged 21. Nine suspects, including two agents, are in custody. The victims were lured to India, tortured, and forced into sexual activities. Fake documents were used to alter their ages, and we are actively investigating to apprehend the remaining accused, including the customers involved." The Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of the MBVV police, under the leadership of Police Commissioner Niket Kaushik and with assistance from NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation, conducted the operation on July 26 to free the minor from the clutches of her exploiters. The victim, originally from Bangladesh, shared a chilling account with the officials. She revealed that she fled her home after failing an examination, fearing harsh punishment from her parents. A woman named Ruby, known to the girl, lured her to Kolkata, where fake documents were created to alter her age, misrepresenting her as older to facilitate her exploitation. From Kolkata, the minor was trafficked to Nadiad in Gujarat, where she endured rape and blackmail. An elderly man allegedly took obscene photographs, using them to coerce her into prostitution. The cycle of abuse continued as she was bought and sold across multiple cities in Gujarat and Maharashtra, trapped by fear and terror. The breakthrough came when intelligence reached the MBVV police and their NGO partners about the girl's presence in Naigaon. Acting swiftly on Commissioner Kaushik's orders, the AHTU devised a meticulous plan to rescue her. The operation culminated in her liberation, and she was subsequently handed over to the Child Welfare Committee in Ulhasnagar, Thane, where she is now receiving counselling and care to help her recover from the trauma. The investigation has uncovered disturbing details, including the involvement of 12 Bangladeshi agents in the trafficking ring. Authorities have arrested nine individuals so far, including two key agents who allegedly orchestrated the operation. The Naigaon police are investigating cautiously, given the case's gravity and the minor's vulnerability. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities determined to dismantle the racket.
NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
Bangladeshi Teen Sexually Abused By 200 Men Over 3 Months, Rescued In Palghar
Palghar: A 14-year-old Bangladeshi girl rescued from a sex racket in Maharashtra's Palghar district has told police she was sexually assaulted by at least 200 men in a span of three months, an official said on Monday, adding the claim was being verified. The minor was rescued after the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) of Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar Police, in a joint operation with NGOs Exodus Road India Foundation and Harmony Foundation, raided a flat in Naigaon in Vasai here on July 26, the official said. Six of those arrested and three of the five victims, including the 14-year-old girl, are Bangladeshi nationals, he said. Among those arrested are two women, aged 33 and 32, who allegedly facilitated the juvenile's entry into India from Bangladesh. So far, ten persons have been arrested, Naigaon police station senior inspector Vijay Kadam said. As per her statement given at a juvenile detention centre, she was first trafficked to Nadiad in Gujarat, where she suffered sexual abuse, another police official said. Harmony Foundation president Abraham Mathai said the girl had failed in a subject in school, after which she ran away from home. She was then made to cross over into India illegally by a woman acquaintance who then pushed her into the flesh trade, Mathai claimed. All the 200 men who allegedly sexually abused her must be traced and arrested, Mathai demanded. Police officials also said the girl may have been given hormonal injections to induce premature puberty. Human rights activist Madhu Shankar said there are instances of victims being kidnapped from various parts of the country when they were infants, made to live with those operating such rackets, and then pushed into the flesh trade as minors after being given such injections. MBVV police commissioner Niket Kaushik said the force is taking all efforts to expose the entire racket and provide a safe environment to vulnerable teenagers. Another official told PTI the allegations of the teen girl are being verified. As per police, the victims of the sex racket busted on July 26 in Naigaon were allegedly trafficked to different locations like Navi Mumbai, Pune in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka and other places in the country. Those arrested include main accused Mohammad Khalid Abdul Bapari (33), who was allegedly responsible for sending the victims to various cities for flesh trade, and agents Juber Harun Sheikh (38) and Shamim Gafar Sardar (39), the police said. The accused also gave sedatives to the minor girl, branded her with a hot spoon as part of efforts to force her into the flesh trade, the official said. Police teams have been dispatched to various places in the country to apprehend others involved in the racket, he said. A case was registered on July 27 under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Juvenile Justice Act, Foreigners Act and the Passport Act, the police added.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Beed police help family reunite with son after 8 years
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A sugarcane-cutting couple in Beed was reunited with their son after he had been missing for nearly eight years. The reunion took place on Friday at the office of Beed superintendent of police Navneet Kanwat. The son, now 24, had left home in Dec 2017 while in Std X, as he was upset with his academic struggles. At the time, his parents, originally from Khalwat Limgaon village, were working as seasonal workers in Karnataka. The boy had been staying with a teacher in Nalwandi village to continue his education. Since his parents are uneducated, they did not file a missing person's report until 2023. The case was later transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) and assigned to Pallavi Jadhav. Jadhav, along with the local crime branch led by Shriram Khatawkar, was able to trace the man and bring him back to his family within a month. "After taking charge of the unit around a couple of months back, I came across the case of the missing boy around a month back," Jadhav told reporters. "We first visited the school in which the teenager was studying. We then inquired with his teachers, including the one who offered the boy accommodation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AI now helps people speak languages fast Talkpal AI Undo After initial investigation, we came to know that the boy had a good character and was struggling in studies," Jadhav said. The police then used technical investigation among other tools to trace the missing boy. According to police, the boy, after fleeing from Beed, went to Pune where he worked as a security guard for some time. He later learned metal fabrication skills and went to Gujarat to earn a livelihood. The boy returned to Pune almost a week back when Beed police contacted and persuaded him to meet his parents. "The boy was apprehensive that his parents would scold him for dropping out and deserting them. However, the reactions of his parents when they met him were completely different as they could not hold their tears back while hugging their son," Jadhav said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
03-08-2025
- The Hindu
1,374 children rescued in Cyberabad under Operation Muskaan-XI
A total of 1,374 children were rescued from various forms of abuse including child labour, begging, and illegal employment by the Cyberabad commissionerate between July 1 to 31. Eleven dedicated teams, each comprising one sub-inspector, three police constables and one woman constable, were deployed across divisions. These teams, supported by the Anti Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU), conducted inspections at industries, shops and commercial establishments, in addition to special drives targeting child begging. Rescued children were documented and uploaded to the Darpan App for official records. Of those rescued, 1,328 were boys and 46 were girls. Among them, 914 were identified as being from outside the State, including 888 boys and 26 girls, while 460 were local, as per the information shared during a convergence meeting held on July 2. A majority of the children, 1,367 in total, were found working in miserable conditions. Others were rescued from orphanages or were found begging. The police ensured that 1,321 children were reunited with their families, while 53 were sent to shelter homes for further care and protection. Legal action was taken with 316 cases registered under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, including Sections 75 and 79, Section 14 of the Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Amendment Act 2016, and Sections 17 and 18 of the Bonded Labour Act. Additionally, photographs of children in 264 missing cases were uploaded to the Darpan App to aid in their identification and tracing.
