Kolkata: The Fast Track Court, Haldia has sentenced 10 convicts for their involvement in a human-trafficking racket. The punishment ranged from 3 years to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment. The order was passed by Judge Anil Kumar Prasad. The two ring leaders of the racket, a brothel owner and its manager, were sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment, while five brothel employees were sentenced to 7 years each. For the first time in Bengal, customers were held guilty for having sexual intercourse with minors and were sentenced to 3 years of imprisonment, said Dilip Shee, Public Prosecutor, Fast Track Court, Haldia. The court directed that the fine amounts charged as part of the conviction would be handed over as compensation to the victims. The convicts were fined a total amount of Rs 1,76,000. The Criminal Investigation Department had rescued 15 victims, of which 12 were minors. Most of the survivors had been trafficked from Nepal.

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