Rajahmundry: Women travelling to Gulf countries like Dubai and Qatar to work as domestic helps at Arab nationals’ homes, many a times end up as sex slaves in the hands of their masters.
A few unlicensed agents were found luring women in Godavari and Krishna districts with an offer of employment as domestic helps in Arab countries.
This issue of sex slaves came to the fore recently when four women sent to Dubai recently to work, protested upon being asked to oblige Arab masters and were brought back to AP safely.
Based on a complaint from the kin of the women, police booked two cases and arrested five unlicensed agents. A case was booked on March 7 at the Narasapuram police station and another case was booked on the same day at Mogaltur police station under Sections 420 of IPC and Sections 24, Sections 5 (A) and 5(B) of Immoral Traffic Act by the police.
The arrested agents have been identified as Timothy, V. Prabhakar, Raj Kumar, Samesh and B. Simhachalam. All of them are out on bail now.
Narasapuram CI P. Ramachandra Rao said, “There is no agent having a valid license to send women to Gulf countries in Godavari districts. The agents are sending women illegally on visiting visa. Nearly 40 women were sent from Godavri and Krishna districts recently.”
Narasapuram DSP P. Sowmya Latha said, “Four women who were rescued from Dubai informed us as to how some women are being used as domestic help and also as sex slaves, when they fail to be employed by Arab nationals. We appeal to people to use the services of only licensed agents to go to Gulf countries for work.”
