Surge in flesh trade and drug abuse in massage parlours - Times of India

[Soumitra Bose]

Nagpur: The city is witnessing a disturbing surge in flesh trade dens operating under the guise of salons and beauty parlours, particularly in the rapidly developing outskirts.Despite frequent police raids and rescue operations, these illicit establishments continue to thrive, fuelled by rising poverty, unemployment, and the soaring cost of living, said a source.In the last one-and-a-half years of CP Ravinder Singal's regime, there was a decisive crackdown on the city's flesh trade rackets. However, the new trend of MD being supplied by the flesh trade racketeers to young women working for them and their customers to boost sex power has thrown a fresh challenge before the police.It's learnt that pimps and flesh trade operators are luring young girls and women, including housewives, into flesh trade with the promise of a quick buck. Many single mothers or widows, struggling to afford basic necessities and education for their children, are turning to these dens for financial survival. The city's new colonies in the extended areas, once symbols of progress, are now at the heart of this alarming trend, raising concerns about its possible outcome reflecting on the upward-moving crime graph. Many criminals are learnt to have switched to MD supply for the lure of big money.Adding to the crisis, some operators are now peddling MD powder, a highly addictive drug, to both women and clients. According to an insider, the demand for MD powder has skyrocketed among flesh trade racketeers. "Some young girls are drawn into the trade solely to sustain their MD addiction," the source stated. "Agents and operators exploit the addicted young girls by offering free drugs in exchange for serving their clients." Shockingly, some clients also consume MD as a sex enhancer or demand it from operators during visits.Sources stated the police have intensified their efforts to find contraband substances during the raids, but it is yet to come to the fore during any action. As Nagpur battles this growing social and criminal issue, police authorities are urging residents to report suspicious activities to help dismantle these networks. "If we get any input on the issue, the entire premises would be searched for any contraband," said an official.