At least 23 Bangladeshi women are reportedly coerced into prostitution in India’s Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, according to a recent investigations by an Indian news portal OdishaTV.

The women are believed to be victims of a larger human trafficking operation. They were allegedly lured to Bhubaneswar with promises of employment, offering daily wages of Rs 2,000. However, upon arrival, what they faced was a life of exploitation and abuse.

The modus operandi – the agents contact customers through WhatsApp and other social media platforms. The agents then send pictures of the girls from which the customer has to choose one. Later, the customer is made to pay an advance payment before he goes to the hotel where the girl is waiting, reports the news portal.

The matter came to the fore after a minor girl was rescued near Link Road in Cuttack, leading authorities to scrutinise how these young women were recruited from Bangladesh and brought to Odisha.

Similarly, another sex worker, apprehended during a police raid, confessed to being trapped against her will. She described the situation as being part of an organised sex racket. ‘We are victims,’ she lamented, shedding light on the persistent torment they endured.

This revelation has prompted questions regarding the involvement of some mastermind operating this network. They have been accused of keeping these women in captivity for years. Investigations are underway, with authorities striving to dismantle this oppressive framework and bring those responsible to justice.

Police are actively tracing the operations of local agents who may have facilitated this activity. Officials are committed to dismantling this network and bringing those accountable to justice.

When contacted, Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra said, “We are keeping a close tab on such illegal activities in the Twin City. We have enough intelligence about such activities. Strict action will be taken as per law against anyone found engaged in such illegal activities.”