Alleged human trafficking case: main accused brought to Kochi

The Kochi City police probing a suspected human trafficking racket on Wednesday started the interrogation of Stoy C. Sindhu, the prime accused in the case.

A native of Kottappady near Perumbavoor, Ms. Sindhu was brought to the Maradu police station from Mumbai where she was arrested while allegedly trying to flee the country after being booked in the case.

Earlier in the day, District Police Chief (Kochi City) Kaliraj Mahesh Kumar told the media that the investigators were expecting to find details of those who operated the alleged trafficking network and their modus operandi from questioning Ms. Sindhu.

He said two more women, who are abroad, have to be arrested in the case. Police sources, meanwhile, said, they would also be investigating if the survivors were used as carriers for gold smuggling too.

Ms. Sindhu is suspected to have played a key role in running a racket that allegedly lured women from Kerala to Dubai with promises of modelling opportunities and later sexually exploited them.

Besides Ms. Sindhu, the Maradu police have arrested Aleena Abraham of Ponguvila, Thiruvananthapuram, and Manjima of Ponnani.

The police booked the case after two victims complained that they were forcibly confined to apartments in Dubai and subjected to repeated abuse.