Crime in Odisha / Balangir Police Bust Sex Rackets, Seven Arrested and Nine Rescued

Balangir, Sep 3: Balangir police have launched a major crackdown on sex rackets operating in the town, rescuing nine women and arresting seven accused in coordinated raids across hotels and rented houses.

The operation was jointly carried out by Balangir Town police and Laxmijore police under the supervision of SP Abhilash G.

According to officials, the raids were conducted after police received leads while investigating a separate ganja case. Acting on the information, SP Abhilash G inspected several hotels and guest houses in the city.

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During checks at a hotel near the railway station, police found young men and women in compromising positions inside rooms 103 and 106, confirming that sex trade was being conducted there.

Police arrested key accused including Geetanjali Bag of Binika in Sonepur district, Sahenabaz Abdullah, Suresh Sahoo, Jagmohan Beria, Nabaghan Suna of Tushura, and Sudarshan Behera of Deogaon.

In another raid at a rented house near Alok Nagar under Laxmijore police limits, officers discovered three men and three women engaged in illegal activities. The couple Amulya Mallik and Swarnalata Mallik were identified as the kingpins, accused of bringing women from Mayurbhanj and Kolkata to run the racket.

SP Abhilash G confirmed that two separate cases have been registered. In the first, Geetanjali Bag was arrested as the main accused, while in the second, Amulya and Swarnalata Mallick were named as prime operators. Police also detained associates Ashish Kumbar and Srikant Suna along with two women.

Investigations revealed that Geetanjali Bag had long been involved in the trade and was previously wanted in a POCSO case. Despite being absconding, she continued operating openly in Balangir until her arrest during the latest raids.

Police sources said she had trafficked a minor girl who later became pregnant, leading to a Zero FIR filed in Bargarh district. The case was later transferred to Balangir Town police, who recorded the victim’s statement and intensified the search for Geetanjali.