Guwahati: Guest house under scanner in alleged sex trafficking

Staff reporter

Guwahati: In a major breakthrough, Guwahati Police have uncovered a suspected sex trafficking racket allegedly operating out of Baptice Inn, a guest house located in the city. Acting on specific intelligence, the East Guwahati Police, led by DCP Mrinal Deka, conducted a targeted operation and arrested four individuals in connection with the case.

The proprietor of the guest house, Dilip Hazarika alias Bapti Hazarika from Gohpur, is believed to be the prime accused. According to police sources, Hazarika may have been running the operation for at least eight months, trafficking women from across the state and allegedly coercing them into sex work. Alongside him, three women, have also been apprehended. While initially thought to be victims, police are now investigating their suspected role as accomplices in the network.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the entire operation functioned primarily through online platforms, used to communicate with clients and schedule appointments. Victims were allegedly kept under strict surveillance in two rented apartments arranged by Hazarika. Several of these women reportedly suffered health complications due to the coercive nature of the work and were treated at private hospitals in Guwahati. Payment for the medical treatments was reportedly made through Google Pay, directly linked to Hazarika.

During the raid, police seized critical evidence including CCTV footage from the guest house, a laptop suspected to hold communication and transaction records, and the official registration logbook of the property. These materials are now under detailed forensic examination to determine the scope of the alleged trafficking network and identify other individuals involved.

DCP Mrinal Deka, confirming the arrests, stated that investigations are in full swing. “We have arrested four individuals and rescued three victims,” he said.

Also read: Arunachal Pradesh: One more arrested by Itanagar Police in minor sex trafficking case

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