The police have successfully dismantled a sex trafficking operation, recovering 17 mobile phones, a tablet, a laptop, and Rs. 24,800 in cash from the accused.
The gang allegedly used the ‘Locanto’ app to advertise women for sexual services, providing contact numbers and directing customers to upscale hotels in various cities, where they would scam them through advance online payments.
Manju, a resident of Baichanahalli in Kushalnagar, encountered an ad on the app stating, “Kushalnagar top model service available, Kushalnagar-23,” along with a contact number. When he called, the person on the line claimed to be the ‘manager’ of a well-known hotel, stating that the establishment offered women masseurs for massages and sexual favors.
The ‘manager’ informed Manju that the lodge charged Rs. 1,500 for an hour or Rs. 4,000 for the night, requesting an online payment and even sending photos of women via WhatsApp. Trusting him, Manju transferred Rs. 1,500 using G-pay.
However, when Manju reached out again, he was asked to visit the hotel and provide his location, along with details about his clothing, before being requested for additional money.
Feeling suspicious, Manju decided to visit the hotel mentioned in the ad. Upon inquiry, he found that the hotel staff were completely unaware of such services and revealed that numerous others had been deceived in a similar manner.
Following this, Manju lodged a complaint at the Kushalnagar Police Station on June 29. A special team, led by Somwarpet Dy.SP R.V. Gangadharappa and comprising Kushalnagar Circle Police Inspector B.G. Prakash and Sub-Inspectors H.V. Chandrashekar and H.T. Geetha, was formed to investigate. They successfully apprehended the suspects in Bengaluru on July 6.
Kodagu SP K. Ramarajan informed the media that the gang had defrauded individuals of over Rs. 3 lakh, posing as representatives of elite hotels across various districts. The police urge the public to remain vigilant against such online scams and to report any suspected human trafficking or illegal activities to the nearest police station or by calling 112.
