TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
PANJIM: Three Thai women were rescued by the police on a raid by the crime branch at Ayutthaya the wellness Thai Spa at Baga today, police said. Three people were also arrested and a case registered under the ITP act 370, IPC and section 13 of foreigners act.
According to the police the main accused Dennis Fernandes is in Mumbai.
The state, at the fag end of its tourist season, has been in the news with raids in various parts conducted almost every day, underlining that the seamier side of its tourism industry.
Prostitution in the guise of massage parlours along with the drugs has been the bane of the tourism industry with the regular raids and drug busts underlining that tourists come to the state not only for its pearly white beaches but also for drugs and prostitution.
Last year too Baga had the distinction of having nine women rescued in a raid conducted by Calangute police at a restaurant in connection with a sex racket. One was arrested. The raid conducted following a tip-off, police say, found nine women used as dancers and for prostitution.
This has lent credence to the study by an NGO that nearly 45 % of women rescued from various prostitution rackets in the last four years are from Calangute.
According to the report, out of the 316 women rescued between 2010 and 2014, 174 were from Calangute village with 56.9 per cent found in different hotel rooms, while the rest were from beaches, massage parlours, apartments and other accommodations used by high profile clients.
Around 8.3% were from Anjuna beach belt, known more for its drugs after having garnered international media attention for its drugs after the scarlet Keeling case.
