Hyderabad: The city police has begun cracking the whip on prostitution but the racketeers are resorting to digital technology to evade the cops. Organisers of the racket now use high-end smartphones and social media to weed out ‘bogus customers’. With smartphones they check the profile of the potential customer before striking the deal. This shuts the door on undercover cops or decoys who pose as customers as their profile would expose them. It is all phone-based verification now. WhatsApp has come in handy for the intended customer’s verification.
“The organisers, after conducting basic enquiries about the place of stay and occupation of the customers are now asking them to share their location through WhatsApp. The WhatsApp sharing option helps identify the location of the caller. It also helps them to know if the person on the other end is really a customer or a cop,” said a crime investigation department official. Some organisers are now making optimum use of Facebook to scan the profile of the customers. “Generally, a profile indicates work and social background.
So when the customer contacts the organisers, they study the profile and ensure that they are not being duped,” informed the officer. The use of mobile smartphones enables mobsters to always be on the move and even switch between states as they continue operating their business. They also make use of Wi-Fi network to aid their communication. Big time racketeers are known to engage with high-profile models and TV actresses and rent posh hotels for their clients. “These organisers now have a select clientele and charge heavily for their services,” said additional DCP special Operations team Rachakonda, Syed Rafeeq.
Gangs target Old City slums to boost their business
While the police had cracked down on the ‘contract marriages’ reported in pockets of the Old City, organised sex racketeers are presenting a new challenge to cops. Gangs from the adjoining states of Maharashtra and Karnataka are now eyeing the slums and extension areas around Old City to conduct their illegal business. The reason, women activists point out is that a huge number of migrants are settling in the areas to work in the numerous small and medium-scale industries.
According to Ms Jameela Nishath, of Shaheen Resource Centre for Women at Sultan Shahi, most of the women from poor families are being lured into the illegal activity. “Moreover, with a high percentage of divorce cases in the slum areas, the traffickers are luring them to foreign countries on the pretext of providing them with jobs as beauticians or other trades,” she explained. Sources point that the activity has increased in the past few years as the police has failed to act against the organisers.
“The racket is being carried out in thickly populated areas. Organisers rent houses to protect themselves from police raids. They also provide free accomodation to poor families who are not connected to the trade. So when the police raid, the families create ruckus and prevent them from carrying out the raids. To avoid the trouble the police too prefer to stay away,” said a police official.
When contacted, V. Satyanarayana, DCP (South) said that they had received information about a few persons who are luring young girls into the business. “We are gathering the details and identifying the places. At the same time, we appeal to the public to inform us about any illegal activity in their area,” he said.
