Cyberabad police asks Intelligence Bureau to check Thailand women's passports

Hyderabad: The Cyberabad police has asked the Intelligence Bureau to thoroughly check the passports of women from Thailand coming to Hyderabad on ‘business’ or ‘tourist visas’.

Last month, the police rescued 34 women from Thailand who were allegedly involved in the sex business in massage centres.

“We found they are visiting India on business and tourist visas and are engaging in prostitution. We have asked the Intelligence Bureau to thoroughly check their passports and purpose of visit, and if there are multiple visits within a short period,” said a senior police official from Cyberabad.

The business visas are granted after the applicant submits documents supporting the claim. Generally, the visas are provided for up to 10 years with multiple entry options.

A foreigner on business visa is permitted to stay for six months and it is extended in specific cases after the visa holder asks for it. “The Thai women were leaving the city after five and a half months. It means they were not in the list provided by the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) based on which we detain those overstaying in the country,” said the official.

The women were paid up to Rs 25,000 for their services while the organisers were minting money. “A few women came to Hyderabad after landing in other Indian cities. It is an organised network and the organisers are raking in the moolah at the expense of the women,” said another police official.

Meanwhile, the court has granted permission for the women to go back to Thailand. The women had told Thailand embassy officials who visited them last week that they wanted to go back to their country. The embassy officials took up the issue with Cyberabad police who asked them to approach the court. The women will be leaving for Thailand on Tuesday.