Searches for suspected Bangladeshi national behind flesh trade yield no results | Pune News

Pune: Faraskhana police’s multiple searches in West Bengal and northeastern states for Babu Bhai, a suspected Bangladeshi national, and his aide Sanjay S -allegedly involved in an illicit flesh trade operation in the city’s Budhwar Peth red-light area – have yielded no positive results.On Feb 19, Faraskhana police rescued 11 Bangladeshi women during a raid on brothels in the red-light area. The raid was conducted after a Bangladeshi woman, who was later rescued, gave a statement alleging that a woman police constable had thwarted her attempts to escape from a brothel. She wanted to return to Bangladesh, but the constable allegedly handed her back to the brothel keeper. Following the allegation, deputy commissioner of police (Zone I) Krushikesh Rawale suspended the woman constable.Subsequently, crime branch officials conducted another raid in the red-light area and rescued 11 women. Four separate cases of human trafficking under the Prevention of Immoral Traffic Act (PITA) were registered against Babu and Sanjay. However, the duo managed to evade arrest and have since been absconding.“Our investigation so far has revealed that Babu brought nine women through agents based in Bangladesh. We have recorded the statements of these women, all of whom have named Babu as the agent who brought them to Budhwar Peth,” said senior inspector Prashant Bhasme of Faraskhana police station.“Our teams have visited West Bengal and other northeastern states in search of him, but he has not been traced,” Bhasme added. Babu was arrested in Nov 2024 and released from Yerawada prison in Jan 2025. “After his release, he resumed work as an agent,” Bhasme said. “Bangladeshi agents lure poor women with promise of jobs. Once in India, local agents arrange forged Aadhaar cards. The women are then sent to Mumbai or Pune by train. At Pune railway station, Babu and his aide — an autorickshaw driver — would take them to brothels,” he said.