New Delhi: A 15-year-old girl’s disappearance from south Delhi’s Dakshinpuri resulted in police busting a human trafficking syndicate that allegedly lured girls through social media with promises of lucrative jobs at spas.Cops have rescued 10 girls and arrested nine people.Delhi Police received information about the 15-year-old’s disappearance on May 9 after her mother filed a complaint. During their probe, police found out that the girl had come in touch with members of the syndicate on social media platforms. She was allegedly lured with promises of a well-paying job and a better lifestyle before being taken to Gujarat’s Mundra, DCP (south) Anant Mittal said.“A Delhi Police team drove down to Gujarat and rescued the girl from a spa operating out of a hotel in Mundra. The spa operator, Damani Sushil Haresh, alias Sushil, Lakshay, the receptionist, and two boys were apprehended,” the DCP said.Further investigation led to coordinated raids in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia and Delhi’s Ganesh Nagar. In Ballia, seven girls were rescued from a spa and suspects Monu Sharma and Sanjeev Maurya were arrested. Subsequently, two minor girls were rescued from Ganesh Nagar and a woman was arrested.Police said the gang, comprising a chain of recruiters, coordinators, transporters and spa operators, identified vulnerable girls through their social media accounts and personal contacts before luring them with promises of attractive salaries and good accommodation. They were transported from Delhi to different states and handed over to spa operators.Police said Haresh operated the spa in Mundra and received and managed girls sent through the network. Lakshay allegedly recruited vulnerable girls through social media platforms and facilitated their movement. Vinay, a Delhi-based coordinator, allegedly arranged their transportation, accommodation and other logistics, while Monu, Sanjeev and the arrested woman allegedly operated spas.One of their associates, Prince, who allegedly facilitated the transportation of the girls, is absconding. Police are looking for him.Cops said the two boys apprehended during the Mundra operation were later treated as victims based on their statements and a separate case was registered.
