Woman sold, pushed into flesh trade; one held

A 30-year-old woman has been arrested for allegedly pushing a woman from West Bengal into flesh trade here, police said today.
The 24-year-old woman hailing from West Bengal was allegedly brought here about a month back on the promise of being given a job of Rs 20,000 per month. The woman's husband is physically challenged, said S R Patil assistant police inspector, Bhiwandi police station.
However, after being brought here, the woman was sold to a brothel in Hanuman Tekdi of Bhiwandi town for Rs 50,000, he said.
She was then forced to provide sexual favours to several male customers in a day following which she became sick and was admitted to hospital, Patil said.

The woman's bid to run away from the brothel was also foiled, he said.
However, some social workers rescued her yesterday and took her to the police station where she lodged a complaint.

A woman, identified as Neela who ran the brothel, was yesterday arrested in connection with the offence, he said.
Police are on the lookout of five more persons, from Thane and Mumbai, whose names have been mentioned in the complaint.
Offences have been registered against the accused under sections 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave), 370A read with 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and sections 4, 5 and 6 of The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, police said.