TEAM HERALD
MARGAO: The Margao police raided a hotel at Khareband-Margao and rescued four victim girls, including two minors and arrested four persons under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.
Acting on a tip off, Margao police station PI Sudesh Nik along with a police team, assisted by NGO Auda Viegas raided the hotel upon information that the place was being used for the purpose of prostitution.
PI Suddesh told the media that the raiding party found two victims aged 32 and 42 hailing from Mumbai who he said had been brought to Margao by accused Mutu Kumar, 42 hailing from Tamil Nadu and working as tourist guide who has been arrested under sections 120 B, 370 A (2) of IPC, Sections 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7 of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956.
Further, when the police checked other rooms in the hotel, they found two minor girls aged 16 from Mumbai in Room 10 who it was found had been brought for prostitution by Leslie Fernandes, 35 year Sarzora who was arrested along with hotel manager Lester Barreto, 47, of Sirvodem-Navelim and room boy Anthony Raj, 29 years. The police have registered offence under Sections 120 B, 370 A (1) & 376 of IPC, section 8 of the Goa Children Act and section 4 of POCSO. The victim girls have been sent to Apna Ghar, Merces and the four arrested accused are in Margao police custody. PI Naik is conducting investigation in the case under supervision of Margao DySP Mohan Naik and South Goa SP Vijay Singh.
