Flesh trade: Kanathur cops arrest 6, rescue 8 women

Based on a tip-off, a special team of police raided a resort in Panaiyur and rescued three women — hailing from Maharashtra and West Bengal — who were forced into prostitution. Investigation revealed that a few more women were held captive in another resort called SM Palace in Kovalam and the special team rescued five more women.

Investigation revealed that the resort’s owner Senthil Kumar (40) brought the women to the city on the promise of a job and forced them into flesh trade.

“His two brokers — Mahendran (38) and Sivakumar (49) — share the women’s photos online and charge anything between Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 from their customers. They brought customers in a hired car to the resort,” said police. Apart from the three, police also arrested resort manager Babu (32), middleman Sathish (24) and driver Dileep (28). Cars used for transporting the customers and mobile phones were seized and the accused remanded.

Similarly, Virugambakkam police busted flesh trade racket in the guise of spa services in Kumaran colony and rescued three women.