HYDERABAD: With human trafficking racket thriving online, police are keeping a close watch on websites such as Locanto through which traffickers attract customers. In the recent past, Rachakonda police have detained five traffickers under the PD Act.Apart from publishing details on Locanto, organisers of prostitution rackets have also been running several closed WhatsApp groups to scale up demand for flesh trade in the city. “We have been conducting raids on several brothels and rescuing victims. However, there has been a paradigm shift from local brothels to online flesh trade in the last few years. Websites like Locanto are used where customers contact the accused and finally the victim is pushed into prostitution,” said Mahesh Bhagwat , commissioner of police, Rachakonda.“The group admins share photographs of women and girls for customers to choose. We have identified several such WhatsApp groups,” explained Bhagwat. Police said one of the main reasons for human trafficking cases is the rising demand from customers. This has led to the Rachakonda police closing down as many as 68 brothels operating under its jurisdiction and arresting 208 customers under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act. Bhagwat said the customers are also being arrested and their family members counselled.In most cases, the main organisers slip out as they send a mediator or assistant with the victims. “The server of websites like Locanto is based abroad. So, any request sent to put down the details of the victims from the website takes a lot of time to execute it,” an official said.

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