Two men forced their wives into flesh trade, arrested from Thane

THANE: Two people were arrested on Thursday by the anti-human trafficking cell of the Thane crime branch for forcing their wives into prostitution in Bhiwandi.

The officers, who conducted a raid along with a non-governmental organisation, have rescued around four women.

According to the police, the arrested accused have been identified as Hanif Khan, 36 and Imitiyaz Abdul Manik Shah, 22, both residents of Bhiwandi.

“We received information about women being forced into the flesh trade by their husbands, so we found out where they were conducting the racket. We then sent in two people, who acted as customers. They approached them and conducted a raid on Wednesday and found the four women,” said Nitin Mungekar, investigation officer of the NGO.

The women rescued were in their early 20s.

The police during the raid found Rs4,000 cash and two mobile phones from the spot.

“We have arrested the two men and registered a case against them at Kongaon police station. During the investigation we found that the two men were forcing there wife into prostitution. They were acting as their agents with customers. While the other two women rescued are also their relatives,” said Shakeel Shaikh, senior inspector, anti-human trafficking cell of the Thane crime branch.

A case has been registered at the Kongaon police station under section 370, 370 (2) (3) of the Indian Penal Code and different sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, Act.