Two arrested as police raid Latur flat over alleged prostitution racket, woman rescued

A prostitution racket operating from a rented flat in the Maulinagar area of Latur city has come to light. A team of the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit of the Superintendent of Police's office raided the flat and arrested two people. One woman was rescued from the spot. Rs 2,000 in cash and two packets of condoms were also seized.

Police had received a tip-off that women in the city were being made to take part in prostitution on the lure of money. Acting on this, the unit's team kept watch on a flat in Ambika Niwas in Maulinagar and then raided it.

According to police, the accused, Javed Syed, used to call women from districts outside Latur and from Latur city to the flat rented by Rupali Mali. It is alleged that the women were lured with money and made to engage in prostitution with customers. Police had received this information earlier.

On the orders of senior officers, a team led by Police Inspector Vitthal Shivaji Darade laid a trap. The raid took place at 4.55 pm on Friday at flat number 2 on the first floor of Ambika Niwas. Javed Yusuf Syed (33, resident of Karim Nagar, Latur) and Jayshree Ram Torde (40, resident of Prakash Nagar, Latur) were found there. A woman was present in a separate room. Police rescued her after questioning her.

Police had sent a decoy customer with Rs 2,000. The money was recovered from Javed Syed. Two packets of condoms were also seized from the flat.

The investigation has also brought up the name of Vishnu alias Vaibhav Hanumant Puri (resident of Kavali, Ausa taluka, Latur district). According to police, he fled the spot. Rupali Mali, who rented out the flat, has also been found to be linked to the case. Shivajinagar police are looking into the case.

Police Inspector Santosh Patil is conducting the further investigation. The action was carried out under the guidance of Superintendent of Police Amol Tambe, Additional Superintendent of Police Mangesh Chavan and Deputy Superintendent of Police Dr Bhagirathi Pawar. Police Inspector Vitthal Darade, Assistant Police Inspector Ajinath Patil, and women police personnel Sudhamati Wange, Sadanand Yogi, Lata Giri and Sachin Munde took part in the action.