Ballari (Karnataka), Nov 12 (PTI) Police have arrested 11 people in connection with an alleged organised trafficking racket operating in and beyond Ballari district, Superintendent of Police Suman Pannekar said Thursday.
Police are on the lookout for four more suspects, including a man whom Pannekar described as the alleged kingpin.
Pannekar said the operation was conducted with Akkapade (Women’s Force) and that investigators were still trying to identify the women believed to have been lured by the group.
Police have not established the total number of potential victims.
“We have so far secured 11 accused, and they have been given to judicial custody, and our teams are yet to nab other accused who are involved in this,” Pannekar said.
She said the women were allegedly approached with promises of money in exchange for sexual services. According to Pannekar, they were asked to provide photographs and later nude videos before being selected for what the suspects called a “final process of Lakshmi Puja”.
She said the women were promised a share of the money, with the remainder going to mediators.
Police had secured 10 suspects from Ballari and one from from neighbouring Anantapur district in Andhra Pradesh.
She said investigators had also received information that the alleged operation may have spread to Chikkamagaluru, Mysuru and Pune.
Pannekar identified “DR” as the alleged main operator, who remained at large.
The investigation is ongoing, and police are yet to determine how many women may have been affected, the official added. PTI GMS SA
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