Bhubaneswar, May 21: Odisha police have intensified their crackdown on illegal sex rackets, with two major operations carried out in Jatani near Bhubaneswar and in Bargarh district within the past two days.

In Jatani’s Ramachandrapur Bazaar area, police raided a rented house late Wednesday night following reports of suspicious activities.

During the operation, six women forced into sex work were rescued. Authorities also arrested five customers along with the alleged kingpin, an elderly woman who had been running the racket for several years.

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Investigations revealed that young women from different parts of Odisha were coerced into staying at the house and forced into prostitution. Locals had long suspected illicit activities, noticing frequent gatherings of outsiders at odd hours. Despite community objections, the kingpin reportedly misled residents by claiming the women were receiving vocational training.

Police seized several vehicles, mobile phones, cash, and objectionable materials during the raid. The rescued women have been shifted to a short stay home, while the arrested suspects will be produced in court. Officials are also probing whether the house owner was aware of the illegal activities.

Meanwhile, in Bargarh district, another sex racket was uncovered at a roadside dhaba in Dhangera.

Acting on a tip-off, rural police raided the establishment and arrested the dhaba owner, Atmaram Panda, his wife Pranati Panda, and three customers. Several incriminating items were seized, including ₹26,260 in cash, six mobile phones, two motorcycles, and a large quantity of liquor.

Police sources confirmed that the arrested customers hailed from nearby villages. The racket had reportedly been operating for some time under the guise of a food business.

These back-to-back raids highlight the growing vigilance of Odisha police against human trafficking and illegal sex trade.