'Business' hotspots in Edappally, South railway station; Even well-off Malayali IT women part of trade

KOCHI: More details emerged in the arrest of six North Indian girls during a raid on a prostitution ring in Ernakulam South. As per reports, these girls were lured into the ring after feigning love by a Manarkkad native. It is said that even IT professionals are victims of this business. The operator of the prostitution ring, Akbar Ali, a native of Mannarkad, was arrested. Police reported that the culprit was earning lakhs per month through this trade.

It is also reported that minor girls were also involved in the racket. After further investigation, a POCSO case may be filed. Four people, including the client, have been taken into custody in the raids conducted at two locations.

The racket was busted in a joint operation by Elamakkara and Kadavanthra police. The shady business was carried out furtively behind the façade of shops that used to function 24 hours a day. Police received a tip-off about the illicit business ongoing with impunity in certain regions of Edappally, after which a raid was conducted. Akbar Ali was arrested at Edappally. Surprisingly, police couldn’t fight any women, part of the business, from this spot.

On detailed interrogation, Akbar spilt more beans about another branch operating near the South Railway Station. The women were rescued during an inspection conducted here in the evening. A case will be registered based on the statements of the rescued women. Even Malayali young women were part of the trade. The phone numbers of the women were made public on social media and certain sites, intended to lure possible customers.

This trade is also widespread in the city, even under the guise of massage parlours. The intelligence department had found that there are more than 100 parlours in Kochi alone. The fraudsters attract customers with attractive names and billboards. They operate by bringing young women from North India and elsewhere for the business.