Trio including mother held for forcing minor into flesh trade

A 50-year-old woman has been arrested along with a husband-wife duo for allegedly forcing her own minor daughter into prostitution. The police in a raid also rescued the 15-year-old girl from a middle class locality in Saki Naka area of western suburbs.

The raid took place on Saturday evening in a two-storey structure in Sundar baug area. A husband-wife couple, who live there on rent, was allegedly running a flesh trade racket. Acting on a tip off, a decoy customer was sent to the place and after it was ascertained that the flesh trade was being run, officials including police inspector Raja Bidkar raided the place and found the minor along with another woman.

During questioning, the police learnt the girl left school in class 7. Her mother is a domestic help and told the police that their economic condition had worsened. They live in a slum pocket and hail from Nashik district. Sources said she was promised Rs 1,000 for the flesh trade. The girl’s statement is yet to be recorded but she has told the police that she has been in the trade for two to three months and has been sexually assaulted in this period. The girl has been sent to the Dongri correction home and the woman to a shelter home.