DIMAPUR, OCTOBER 13 (MExN): Six Naga girls rescued from a massage parlour, namely ‘Lotus Beauty Palour’ in Goa now in the protective custody of the Goa state government will be returned home in about two days time. The girls, mostly in their twenties were rescued on October 9 last, were being forced into the flesh trade by their employers.
Superintendent of Police, Dimapur Z. Mero on Wednesday evening said that the Director General of Police, Nagaland K. Kire has directed a police team from Nagaland to bring the girls back home. The police team will leave for Goa by October 15 after the required legal formalities are taken care of, the SP said. The SP further said that the relatives and parents of the girls, whose identities are being withheld for confidentiality, can contact the SP for further information.
Goa police had arrested five persons in connection with the case, including one Mahalaxmi Mishra, who is said to have come to Nagaland in the month of September to recruit the girls on the pretext of giving jobs. The arrested are all said to be employees of the said massage parlour. A social worker associated with ArzIndia.Org speaking from Goa Wednesday evening on condition of anonymity said that the girls are all now in the safe custody of ‘State Protective Home’, Goa.
“Arz is a social work organization committed to combating trafficking of persons for the purpose of sexual abuse and commercial sexual exploitation in Goa. The organization work with the victims of commercial sexual exploitation and also against those who are perpetrators of this crime”.
The social worker, who was present during the police raid on the massage parlour, said that the girls had been ‘working’ there for about ten days before their rescue. Queried whether the girls were sexually abused, the social worker replied that it is yet to be confirmed as the Goa police is yet to disclose further details of the case.
Meanwhile, Mizoram police has sought production warrant to bring the owner of a beauty parlour in Goa to Aizawl who allegedly tried to force four Mizo girls into prostitution, police sources said here today. Superintendent of Police of Aizawl, Lalbiakthanga Khiangte said three persons were arrested in Aizawl and five persons in Goa in this connection and the police were still searching for one of the main accused who was still absconding. He said that four Mizo girls, working in the beauty parlour since early September were asked to comply with the sexual overtures of their customers.
The four girls were hired by a man called Vanlalruati and others who promised them jobs in the beauty parlour in Goa as beauticians but were asked to become prostitutes, he said, adding that they were smuggled out from their work place by a Mizo boy working in Goa and were later helped by Goa police. Arrangements were being made for their return to Mizoram through the Women and Child Welfare Commission of Goa, he said, adding that six Naga girls were also rescued by the Goa police from the same beauty parlour.
(With inputs from PTI)
