‘Tourism & flesh trade are linked’

Four anti-human trafficking units, one each in Shimla, Kangra, Kullu and Sirmaur, have been established and assigned the task of curbing the flesh trade in Himachal. As many as 95 per cent girls who went missing during past 10 years have been traced, but there is no data regarding the girls from the state who have been forced into prostitution in other states, says Director General of Police Sita Ram Mardi. Excerpts from an interview: 

Is there any connection between flesh trade, tourism and drugs in the state? 

A nexus between the flesh trade and tourism has been observed in the state. The districts with a higher number of hotels and guest houses that receive the maximum number of tourists record a higher incidence of such cases. Interstate sex rackets have been busted in Shimla, Kullu and Kangra districts which are key tourist resorts.   

Is there any organised sex racket in Himachal Pradesh?

No, we have not found any organised sex racket. In most of the cases, different persons or group of persons from the neighbouring state of Punjab and Haryana have been found to be involved in the flesh trade. Involvement of locals has also been observed but there are no organised local rackets functioning in the state. The police acts promptly in cases of immoral trafficking under provisions of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act, 1956.

What is the modus operandi of those involved in flesh trade?

In most of the cases, it has been found that a hotel is booked by a group of persons and prostitutes or agents tie up with these groups. The hoteliers bring a group of girls and present them as dancers meant for entertaining them. After dance performances, the girls are supplied to the customers.

In a few cases, prostitutes have been found staying in hotels during the peak season. They operate through telephone from there.  Even online advertisements about providing escort services are also made use of for luring customers with the promise of supplying them girls.

How serious are ramifications of human trafficking for flesh trade?

Human trafficking is a globally recognised problem and Himachal is not an exception. Instances of forced or child marriages have rarely been reported from Sirmaur district, as there is a great demand for girls in the neighbouring state of Haryana, which has a skewed sex ratio. 

About 95 per cent of the girls/women who went missing during the past one decade have been traced. We do not have any data that suggests whether all the remaining ones have been trafficked for the purpose of prostitution or not.

What steps have the police taken to curb flesh trade? Is there any mechanism to procure data about the sex trade through the intelligence wing?

The intelligence wing of the state CID collects and disseminates information pertaining to sex trade and immoral trafficking. Four anti-human trafficking units, one each in Shimla, Kangra, Kullu and Sirmaur have been established and assigned the task of curbing the flesh trade in Himachal.

Decoy customers are sent by the police many a time to bust sex rackets, but unless it is organised prostitution, it becomes difficult to get the adults convicted, as they maintain that consensual sex is not a crime. Immediate action is taken on any information on immoral trafficking and the police keep a vigil on suspicious activities, especially during the tourist season.

What in your opinion are the reasons behind increasing cases of prostitution and related crimes? 

In my opinion, poverty, demand for women in tourist destinations, lack of awareness among poor victims are the main reasons. In urban areas, desire for a better lifestyle could be one of the reasons for luring girls into prostitution. Internet penetration with cheaper subscription rates and more data availability has increased sexual offences like molestation and rape, as porn is easily accessible at the click of a button.

— Bhanu P Lohumi