The Kerala Police on Wednesday late night busted a prostitution racket in the Karyavattom area of state capital Thiruvananthapuram, during which they arrested two Bangladeshi women for illegally staying in the country. Meanwhile, the police said they detained six other persons, believed to be linked to the illicit network.

Senior police officials said that the state’s Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS) had received a tip-off, upon receipt of which they carried out a raid at a rented accommodation in the locality. Officials added that the accused had leased the accommodation earlier this month under false pretences.

Group posed as medical professionals to rent property

The investigating police personnel said that the group had secured the house by posing as medical professionals. According to authorities, the premises served as a den for an organised prostitution racket operating in the area.

They further said that two Bangladeshi women, who had been residing in the city for almost a month, are suspected to have been involved actively in the illicit operation. Their immigration status is being inspected and officials maintained that the duo did not possess valid documents to stay in India.

FIRs registered under multiple charges

Police said they have registered separate First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the incident. The Bangladeshi duo has been booked for illegal stay, while another FIR has been registered for provisions linked to prostitution activities.

As per police, the six others detained during the raid are being interrogated at present to ascertain the extent, scale and structure of the network. Officials hinted towards more arrests as the investigation deepens.

Crackdown comes amid action against illegal immigrants

Officials said that the operation comes in the middle of an intensified drive by law enforcement agencies, aimed at identifying foreign nationals residing illegally in Kerala using forged documents and fake identity cards. Sources privy to the police department said that similar cases surfaced in recent weeks, prompting them to heighten surveillance and coordinated action.

Notably, authorities had earlier laid hands on two other Bangladeshi women from a spa centre in Thiruvananthapuram in a separate operation, pointing towards a pattern of organised illegal activities.

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