India, Aug. 13 -- The Delhi Police has busted an interstate human-trafficking syndicate allegedly involved in luring vulnerable women and girls through social media on the pretext of getting them lucrative jobs at spa centres and rescued 10 victims from Delhi, Gujarat and Uttar Pradesh, an officer said on Wednesday. The investigation began after a 15-year-old girl went missing from Dakshin Puri on May 9. A case was registered at the Ambedkar Nagar police station following a complaint from her mother. "During the probe, a team found that the girl was allegedly contacted through social media and lured with promises of a well-paying job and better lifestyle, before being taken out of Delhi," the senior police officer said. Also Read - Man sedated, electrocuted, & beaten to death in S Delhi Technical surveillance and an analysis of digital evidence revealed that the girl was taken to Mundra in Gujarat. The team travelled there in a private vehicle and with the local police's assistance, rescued her from a spa operating from a hotel in Mundra in Kutch. The spa owner, Damani Sushil Haresh alias Sushil (31), and receptionist Lakshay (20) were apprehended, along with two juveniles. Further investigation led police to Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, where seven girls were rescued from a spa centre. Two alleged operators, Monu Sharma and Sanjeev Maurya, were arrested. Two girls were subsequently rescued from a premises in Delhi's Ganesh Nagar and a 27-year-old woman allegedly operating the premises was arrested. Also Read - 19-year-old boy found dead at Ghaziabad society, police investigate "The accused allegedly identified vulnerable girls through social media platforms and personal contacts, before promising them attractive salaries, accommodation and employment at spa centres," the officer said. Police said the victims were allegedly taken from Delhi to different states and handed over to spa operators associated with the syndicate. The network had recruiters, coordinators, transporters and spa operators working in coordination for financial gain. Besides the six arrested accused, Vinay alias Mahadev has been identified as a Delhi-based coordinator who allegedly arranged transportation, accommodation and logistics. Police said one associate, Prince, who allegedly facilitated transportation of victims, is absconding. Police said three juveniles were apprehended during the operation. Two of them were treated as victims based on their statements, following which a separate FIR was registered and an investigation taken up.
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