Aizawl, May 13: The Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP), the apex women’s organisation in Mizoram, on Tuesday strongly condemned the alleged trafficking and sexual exploitation of Mizo women under the guise of employment opportunities outside the state.
In a statement, the organisation said Lalnunsiami (30), a resident of New Diakkawn in Kolasib district, and Mohammad (31) from Uttar Pradesh, who allegedly posed as her husband and operated the spa, were arrested by Mizoram Police in coordination with Uttarakhand Police on May 5.
Describing the alleged exploitation of Mizo women as “highly condemnable,” MHIP stated that it would continue pursuing the matter to ensure that all those involved receive stringent punishment under the law.
The organisation also advised young women seeking jobs outside Mizoram to remain cautious and urged parents to stay informed about their children’s workplaces and movements.
Calling for collective vigilance, MHIP appealed to the public, local communities and churches to work together to protect Mizo women from trafficking and exploitation networks.
The case surfaced after Mizoram Police and officials of the state Women and Child Development Department, in coordination with Uttarakhand Police, rescued five Mizo women, including two minors, from an alleged sex trafficking racket operating under the cover of a spa business in Rudrapur, Uttarakhand.
Earlier, Mizoram Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) H. Ramthlengliana had stated that six persons, including the alleged mastermind and spa owner, were arrested in connection with the case.
According to police, the trafficking network came to light after one of the survivors managed to escape and filed an FIR at the All Women Police Station in Aizawl on May 1.
In her complaint, the survivor alleged that she and her friend were lured to Rudrapur with promises of legitimate employment at Beauty Queen Salon and Spa and a monthly salary of Rs 20,000.
She stated that they travelled to Uttarakhand in October last year after the spa owner arranged and financed their journey. However, upon reaching the establishment, they were allegedly forced into prostitution and informed that providing “extra services” to customers was mandatory in order to receive their wages.
The survivor further alleged that the women were compelled to entertain between three and nine clients daily and were often forced to consume alcohol and intoxicating substances before meeting customers.
According to the complaint, whenever the women attempted to leave, they were prevented from escaping, with the premises allegedly locked to confine them.
On April 4, the women reportedly managed to flee by breaking the gate lock with tools and returned to Aizawl three days later, following which the FIR was registered.
After the complaint was lodged, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the SDPO of Aizawl South was constituted to investigate the matter.
Acting on inputs that more Mizo women were still trapped in the network, a joint team from Mizoram Police and the Women and Child Development Department travelled to Uttarakhand on May 4 and conducted a raid at the spa premises in coordination with Rudrapur Police the following day.
Five Mizo women, including two minors, were rescued during the operation.
Police said those arrested include the spa owner, the alleged mastermind, his Mizo partner and another female associate linked to the trafficking and prostitution racket.
The rescued women are currently under the care of the Child Welfare Committee in Rudrapur, where they are receiving medical treatment and trauma counselling.
