Navi Mumbai, Dec 02: Navi Mumbai Police’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) on Saturday busted a prostitution racket operating under the guise of massage services at Arpana’s Salon & Spa in Sector 11, Juhugaon, Vashi, rescuing six women from the premises. The spa’s manager, Asima Robin Ghosh (34), was arrested, while her partner, Noor Alam Shaikh, remains absconding.

According to police, the spa was allegedly charging Rs 6,000 per customer and coercing women into prostitution. Acting on specific information, the AHTU deployed a decoy customer on November 30 to verify the operations.

Once the illegal activities were confirmed, a team led by Senior Police Inspector Prithviraj Ghorpade, along with API Yogesh Deshmukh, PSI Sarita Gude and other personnel, conducted a swift raid on the establishment.

During the operation, officers found six women who revealed they were being forced into sex work under the guise of providing massage services. Based on their statements, police registered a case against Ghosh and Shaikh under BNS Section 143(3) and Sections 3, 4, 7 and 7(1) of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.

“We will continue to crack down on establishments exploiting women under the pretext of spa and massage services. Action will be taken against all those involved, including the absconding accused,” said Senior PI Prithviraj Ghorpade.

Ghosh has been remanded to police custody till December 4, and the search for Noor Alam Shaikh is underway, officials added.

Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 2: The hunt for first-time Congress MLA Rahul Mamkootathil, who has been absconding since a sexual assault case was registered against him, entered its sixth day on Tuesday.

The case was filed after a woman submitted a complaint directly to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, prompting the Kerala Police to launch an intensive search amid mounting pressure from the ruling Left government to secure his arrest before his anticipatory bail plea is heard on Wednesday.

Mamkootathil vanished from public view within hours of the case being registered, and multiple police teams are now searching possible hideouts, including locations in Coimbatore and Bengaluru.

His disappearance has triggered a political storm, with the Left and the BJP accusing the Congress of shielding the absconding legislator.

BJP leader Prashanth Sivan on Tuesday alleged that the red car reportedly used by Mamkootathil to escape had been stored months earlier at the residence of a Congress leader who had hosted a group meeting in support of Rahul.

He further claimed that the state police were conducting only a “cosmetic investigation” under the influence of the CPI(M) leadership.

“This is a superficial probe meant to throw dust in people’s eyes. Congress leaders are protecting an MLA who stands accused of serious abuse. What message are they giving to the women of Kerala?” he asked, adding that there were reasons to suspect that Mamkootathil was being sheltered in the homes of Congress leaders in Palakkad.

Senior Congress leader and KPCC general secretary C. Chandran, however, dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated”.

He said he had no connection with the red car, adding that he had used Mamkootathil’s four-wheeler only once to travel to the hospital when his own vehicle was under repair.

“The party has already taken action against Mamkootathil. Claims that Congress leaders are protecting him are baseless,” he said.

Meanwhile, investigators are probing whether any Congress functionary aided Mamkootathil’s disappearance.

They have recorded statements from the complainant’s friends, one of whom said the woman was in severe physical and emotional distress following an abortion.

While public activist Rahul Eashwar was jailed on Monday for his alleged curt remarks against the victim, the police have registered 20 cyber-abuse cases related to online attacks against the complainant.

With political tensions escalating and the red-car trail being closely examined, the pressure on the police to locate the missing MLA has intensified as the crucial bail hearing approaches.

New Delhi, Dec 2: A total of 84 missing or kidnapped individuals, including 30 children, were traced and reunited with their families in November under ‘Operation Milap’ carried out by the South West District Police in the national capital, officials said on Tuesday.

With this, the total number of rescued missing or kidnapped people by the district police this year has reached 1,201, comprising 399 children and 802 adults.

According to a statement issued by the police, search operations were initiated immediately upon receiving reports of missing or kidnapped persons.

Local enquiries played a significant role in the efforts, along with checking CCTV footage and circulating photographs of the missing individuals and suspects at auto stands, e-rickshaw stands, bus stops, and railway stations.

Officials added that enquiries were also conducted with bus drivers, conductors, and vendors to track the movements of the missing persons. Local informers were roped in, while records from nearby police stations and hospitals were thoroughly examined.

During this period, the staff of Police Station (PS) Kapashera traced nine missing children — one boy and eight girls — aged between 10 and 18 years. They also located 14 missing adults, including eight men and six women.

The team from PS Palam Village traced four missing children, two boys and two girls, in the same age group. They also found five missing adults, including two males and three females.

The staff of PS Vasant Kunj North located two missing girls aged 10 to 18 years, along with two missing adults — one male and one female — who were also reunited with their families.

Personnel from PS Sagarpur traced eight missing persons, comprising three men and five women.

Two missing girls aged between 10 and 18 years were traced by PS Kishangarh, in addition to seven missing adults, including four men and three women.

The staff of PS Vasant Kunj South located three missing children — two boys and one girl — in the 10 to 18 age bracket, along with five missing adults, comprising three males and two females.

PS R.K. Puram traced one missing minor girl and one missing male, both of whom were reunited with their families.

PS Vasant Vihar traced four missing children — two boys and two girls — aged between 10 and 18 years. They also located two missing adults, one male and one female.

PS Sarojini Nagar traced one missing minor girl and one missing male.

PS S.J. Enclave located two missing girls aged between 10 and 18 years and five missing adults, including three men and two women.

One missing male was traced by PS South Campus and reunited with his family.

PS Delhi Cantt located two missing girls aged 10 to 18 years and three missing adults, including one male and two females.

All individuals recovered during the operation were successfully reunited with their families.

“Under ‘Operation Milap’, South-West District Police reaffirmed their commitment to public service by ensuring the safe return of 84 missing individuals to their homes. Their compassionate approach, coupled with methodical investigations and swift action, brought hope and relief to many grieving families,” officials said.