Flesh trade goes the spa way in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: Nearly two months after Covid-19 restrictions were eased allowing spas and massage centres in the city to reopen, desperate organisers have resumed their modus operandi of misusing such facilities for organising prostitution. This is evident from the fact that in the last one month, the police raided at least five massage parlours across the […]

Hyderabad: Nearly two months after Covid-19 restrictions were eased allowing spas and massage centres in the city to reopen, desperate organisers have resumed their modus operandi of misusing such facilities for organising prostitution. This is evident from the fact that in the last one month, the police raided at least five massage parlours across the city, where cross massage or prostitution was allegedly being organised.

The flesh trade conducted under the cover of spas and massage parlours has also shifted to semi-residential areas as owners were not in a position to pay high rents of properties on thoroughfares in business hubs of the city due to the lockdown and subsequent losses.

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“During the recent raids conducted at two places, we found the massage centres being operated from residential apartments or small commercial buildings in colonies. On specific information, the police teams raided the place and found that prostitution was being organised,” said K Shiva Chandra, SHO (Banjara Hills).

Post the lockdown, the police also found that the managements were keen on organising illegal activities to make up for the losses incurred on managing the facilities.

“Several massage parlours were shut down due to low business. On an average to run a massage parlour in a 1,000 square feet area, they incur an expenditure of around Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 2 lakh a month towards salaries and maintenance, and with Covid fears still in the minds of people, these are not attracting any business,” a Task Force official said.

“Previously, women trained in body massage in Bengaluru and Kerala were appointed for the purpose along with a few women who were victims of organised prostitution. Now, several centres are luring women who are into sex trade in the city or other places in the Telugu States or Northeastern States and running the illegal activity,” another police official said.

Several massage parlours are now being operated in high profile areas in Banjara Hills, Ameerpet, Punjagutta, Madhapur, Gachibowli and Begumpet. There are also sizeable numbers at Malakpet and Dilsukhnagar where such illegal activities are reported. However, the cause of concern among the public is the shift of these centres into residential areas.

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