By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 1: A sustained and expanding crackdown on illegal flesh trade will continue across Shillong, East Khasi Hills Superintendent of Police Vivek Syiem said on Wednesday, signalling a sharper, coordinated enforcement push backed by multiple departments amid rising public concern over health risks and the spread of such activities into sensitive areas.
He said coordinated crackdowns against illegal flesh trade will continue in prime hubs of the city and will be expanded to other parts in due course.
He stressed that the issue of sex workers cannot be addressed through policing alone, describing it as a complex social problem linked to livelihood concerns.
The SP said a concerted approach involving departments such as Social Welfare and Health is being initiated, particularly in light of concerns over the rise of HIV and the spread of such activities into residential and religious areas.
He said the police will take up the matter with the Social Welfare Department, which has agreed to work on rehabilitation measures for sex workers willing to exit the trade, including skill-based vocational support.
Simultaneously, the Health Department will be engaged to ensure that the spread of HIV is contained.
Issuing a strong warning, the SP urged hotels and guest houses not to facilitate such activities, stating that strict legal action will be taken against violators. He added that police are actively monitoring establishments and will act firmly against those involved in such activities.
On enforcement, he said those involved in such activities will face legal consequences, including court-imposed fines for public solicitation and nuisance. Repeat offenders will be subjected to further penalties through continued court action, impacting them financially.
Police have also seized vehicles used in such activities to disrupt their operations, and will continue to do so.
He clarified that, in line with Supreme Court guidelines, arrests of sex workers cannot be carried out at night.
Responding to queries on possible human trafficking links, the SP said such activities can evolve from small, localised networks into larger organised systems. He cautioned that as local demand gets saturated, networks may expand outward, involving intermediaries, and vulnerable individuals may be lured with promises of easy money without understanding the risks and exploitation involved.
In a recent operation that triggered the current enforcement push, police apprehended 16 individuals, including four pimps, during a crackdown in Khyndai Lad area following complaints from citizens about such activities occurring near residential areas and religious institutions, including churches and a Gurudwara.
