Team Herald
PANJIM: A prostitution raid at Saligao late Tuesday night caught the police on the wrong foot, when one of the prime accused managed to give the Crime Branch (CB) officials the slip after manhandling and slapping a Police Inspector.
The police lapse was further evident when one of the two victims also escaped leaving the raiding team in a tight spot.
The raid was conducted at a hotel health spa when five persons were caught with two victim girls. However, two of the persons – Avdesh Rai alias Krishna and Ankur alias Rahul Rai – confronted the CB team during which they argued and manhandled PI Satish Gawade.
Taking advantage of the situation, Krishna allegedly slapped the PI and escaped from the premises while one of the two victim girls too made her way out through the rear door of the spa.
The other accused John D’Souza alias Johny (business partner) from Bastora, Vijaykumar Nishad (Manager cum cashier) from Chimbel and Karnataka native Vittala Lamani (agent procuring customers on commission for the illegal trade) besides Ankur, also a business partner, have been booked and arrested under relevant sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act. The rescued victim has been lodged at the Protective Home while search for the person absconding has been launched, a senior police officer said.
As per the case details, Avdesh, Vijaykumar, Johny and Ankur are charged with procuring the girls and exploiting them in a public place against their will for the purpose of prostitution with prospective male customers, and living on their earnings. While three of them have been arrested, Vittala has also been booked for the offence.
The police department is expected to inquire into the escape incident with a senior police officer stating they will seek an explanation from the team members.
