Flesh trade in Kozhikode: short-stay facilities, massage parlours under police scanner

Unregistered firms being used as cover for illegal activities

With cases of flesh trade on the rise, the police is keeping an eye on the mushrooming of short-stay facilities, massage parlours and unisex salons in Kozhikode city. The police plan to expose such unregistered business ventures that are being used as a cover for illegal activities.

Police officials from various city stations said their efforts were to reduce incidents of sex trafficking and ensure the safety of women who were being exploited by unidentified gangs for money.

“In a recent incident, a unisex beauty parlour near Kuthiravattam was found to be the hideout of a sex racket. It was the intervention of the police that rescued the exploited women,” said a sub inspector in the city. He said the police gave top priority to the rescue of victims by safeguarding their identity apart from arresting all those who sexually assaulted them.