Dubai, September 12, 2004
PTI
A flourishing network of agents and pimps are allegedly luring Indian
girls to Dubai for prostitution after promising them jobs as housemaids.
Two such girls, one from Andhra Pradesh and another
from Kerala, who have been rescued, are waiting for travel documents
to be sent back home.
"Most of the agents are from Kerala and most of
the girls are from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala," an Indian
consulate official told PTI.
Many are brought here on false promises of jobs and
then forced into the sex racket.
The Consulate is currently preparing a note for the
'Protector of Emigrants' so as to prevent the agents in sex rackets
from luring girls to the Gulf.
"As it is there are several checks but the agents
exploit the loopholes and bring the girls on visit visas. Even minors
are not spared by the traders in flesh," he said.
"Three months ago, a minor girl was rescued in
pitiable conditions," the official said adding the girls also hardly
get any money as the lion's share of income is pocketed by these agents.
"On January 18 this year, another girl landed in
Sharjah and the very next day she was arrested on charges of prostitution
after she refused to comply," he added.