The SEX and the CITY

REPORTS OF AROUND 3200 SEX WORKERS IN TRI-CITY
While the general perception points the presence of ‘Black Sheep’ operating to make big money in flesh trade, certain sources reveals that the metropolitan culture is growing fast here in the tricity.

‘Flash Trade racket busted’…. a common headline and a routine business. Is it so difficult to find paid sex in the tri-city? Easy, as I we sets out on an undercover story.

While call girl culture is gripping the tri-city, there are reports of few girls being forced into this profession taking advantage of their economic hardships and some girls to fulfill their ambition of leading better life at every cost is also alluring many girls into this profession.

If the police reports are to be believed, almost 50 calls girls and pimps has been arrested in less than a month in different of the tri-city. Any doubt, there are open indications of believing that Chandigarh and its counter parts is an emerging as a hub of flesh trade.

It is being said “since the money involved in this sinister trade is quite high call girls are even being brought on contract basis from Delhi, Mumbai and other places ranging between Rs 20,000 and Rs 60,000”.

“Apart from girls brought to the city from other states, there are around 3,000 sex workers active in the city”, claims sources. There are reports “few places in and around the city are fast emerging into red light areas.”

The city is set to join the league of metros in flesh trade. If things go unchecked, the area around Mani Majra may soon be what GB Road is to Delhi, Sona Gachi to Kolkata and Falkland Road to Mumbai.

Though prostitution is a reality in the city, it was usually happening in dingy guesthouses and hotels. But it was never as open as it is now. Girls soliciting customers in the open and striking deals without hesitation was unheard of earlier.

After busting a gang, allegedly involved in flesh trade few months back, the police has every reason to believe the reports of increasing activity of the involvement of inter-state gangs.
The UT police recently arrested five sex workers and a pimp from outside a Sector 45 hotel and claimed that it was a big sex racket.

Sources in the police claims that there are “call girls” being brought from Delhi, Mumbai, Punjab, Assam and West Bengal. Sometimes girls are brought to the city on the pretext of getting them employed here but are later forced into this profession.

A girl hailing from Uttaranchal who was arrested last year told the police, “My love for extravagant lifestyle and unaffordable demands forced my parents to disown me and then I was allured into prostitution on the pretext of a monthly income of Rs 20000”.

“Today even models and younger girls are being roped into flesh trade by pimps and it is becoming more organized in Chandigarh”, she added.

Explaining why sex rackets were being run so openly, a police officer on the condition of anonymity said that the girls and agents who are arrested for prostitution easily get bail in court. “Sex between consenting adults is not an offence. The modus operandi is fashioned in such a manner that the arrangement between the customers and girl looks like that between two consenting adults. Thus, it becomes difficult to book the suspects under sections of the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA), which is non-bailable,” he pointed out.

Besides this, even the million dollar question, technology is a boon or curse, has been asked umpteen times. Technology has made our life easier and more comfortable in many aspects. But it has other sides also. Technology has created threat among parents because of its misuse. YouTube, Social Networking sites, Internet porn sites have been existing and worrying parents because of misuse of these sites by children. Though, these sites are available on net without any control and any one can access them by just clicking ‘I am 18’ tab. There are thousands of uncontrolled porn websites. Pornography is available in different forms like explicit pictures, short animated movies, stories to online videos. This is not limited to porn sites but sex trade and online brothel are also emerging on the net with huge network across the globe.

Quick money

An NGO working among the call girls had reported “girls from rich families are also involved in the profession for quick money and fun.”

Recent disclosure:
“Mr. Cash” — the alleged hi-tech pimp, who was arrested by the UT police in 2005 reportedly, had a list of over 372 clients.
This list had names of over 150 people from Chandigarh such as company executives of multi-national, businessmen and some students.
He was operating through an internet account which was busted by the police. The list of his clients included few people from top echelons of Chandigarh.
Police officers confirm “the modern pimps are more shrewd and organized and reportedly maintain good contacts with few influential people of the society like police officers, bureaucrats, businessmen and politicians.”
In the city a survey conducted by state AIDS control society had estimated presence of more than 3000 commercial sex workers operating here.

Pick up points:
I investigates and list out the ‘‘major pick-up points’’ in the city
Palsora Chowk near Mohali barrier
Picadilly roundabout, near the sector 21 petrol pump
Old Labour Chowk (sector 20-21-33-34)
Sector 20-30 dividing road
NAC, Mani Majra, adjoining bus stand