UditVani, Jamshedpur: What began as a rumour of child kidnapping in villages near Dimna Lake ultimately led to the busting of an alleged sex racket operating out of a defunct ice cream factory in the Bodam police station area in the Steel City outskirts.
Police conducted a raid at the closed factory premises in Mirzadih, under the Bodam police station area, and arrested seven accused persons.
Two other named accused, including the landlord, are currently absconding.
Rumour Sparks Tension in Villages
Around 10 am, panic spread across villages including Mirzadih, Haludbani, Seemagora, Kultand, Patipani and Gerua after rumours of child lifters began circulating.
Hundreds of villagers gathered near Gyana Ganga Public School after spotting a woman roaming alone and suspecting her involvement.
However, a local resident clarified that the woman was mentally unstable and hailed from Rapacha village under Laylam panchayat.
He informed the crowd that she and her husband had been undergoing severe mental distress following the untimely death of their child.
The clarification helped defuse tensions.
Suspicious Activity Leads to Major Revelation
Around noon, fresh information emerged about suspicious movements inside the abandoned ice cream factory located along the road leading to Fadlugora Kali Temple.
Some local youths reportedly peeped through the rear gate and noticed the presence of several young women inside.
When questioned, the alleged operator of the racket, identified as Sumit alias Shantanu alias D’Souza, a resident of Sasaram in Bihar, allegedly attempted to intimidate the villagers.
Enraged locals thrashed him before informing the police.
Raid Conducted Under DSP’s Supervision
Acting swiftly, a police team led by Patamda DSP Bachan Dev Kujur raided the premises.
One room was found locked from inside and had to be broken open with a hammer.
Five young women were rescued from the room.
The police also arrested the alleged kingpin Sumit and his associate Abhishek Das from West Bengal.
Objectionable materials were seized from the spot.
Arrested and Absconding Accused
Those arrested include Shantanu Kumar of Sasaram (Bihar), Abhishek Das of Midnapur (West Bengal), Sarhul Biswas of Haldwarpur (Kalyani), Rinku Das of Bankura, Ainu Laka of Sonakhali, Rekha Sheikh of New Gudiya, and Anusuya Das of Nandapa in Odisha.
Meanwhile, Parvez Alam alias Munna Motu of Mango’s Munshi Mohalla near Imambada and the landlord have been named in the FIR but are absconding.
Based on the statement of Bodam police station in-charge Manoranjan Kumar, a case has been registered against nine named accused.
The seven arrested individuals were sent to judicial custody on Tuesday afternoon.
Police are conducting continuous raids to apprehend the absconding accused.
The incident has sent shockwaves across the area, while authorities have launched a detailed investigation into the matter.
