Team Herald

PANJIM: The Cyber Crime Cell of Goa Police has taken cognisance of the Herald news report exposing the new modus operandi adopted to carry out prostitution trade across the State. Herald, in its edition dated May 23, had exposed about how Twitter handles had been created and were offering services of girls for escort purposes in different parts of Goa.

Director General of Police Muktesh Chander, and Cyber Crime Cell Superintendent of Police Priyanka Kashyap, told Herald that the department has taken strict note of the same. “We have taken cognizance. We have nevertheless been on a continuous mission to crackdown on prostitution rackets operating through any medium,” Chander said.

Echoing DGP’s remark, Crime Branch Chief Kashyap stated they are in the process of approaching the IT Department to block the offensive Twitter handles. “We will soon write to the IT Department to block these Twitter handles. CB has been taking action against prostitution by conducting raids and booking cases against trafficking as well prostitution activities, regularly,” said Kashyap.

Herald had come across the shocking trend of escort services engaging Twitter users to solicit for the illicit trade. The Twitter handles, which were revealed in the Herald report, indicated that tweeples are now approached by escort service providing agencies with suggestive names.

As of Saturday evening, the Twitter handles continued to exist but there were no new posts after Herald’s Tuesday report.