Manali: Residents of the hill town, including traders union and hoteliers, demonstrated against increasing sex trade here and demanded strict action to stop the menace. The entire town remained closed for the half a day in protest of the sex tourism, which residents said was flourishing here.Local women, traders and hoteliers took out a rally and raised slogans. They even issued caveats to people operating sex trade rackets. Women demonstrators said prostitutes from across the country and other nations were roaming freely in the town and pimps were operating without any fear. “Innocent women and girls do not feel safe while walking in the town,” they rued.Manali beopar mandal president Amar Singh said, “We have brought the issue to notice of the police but the flesh trade is only growing. Have police some kind of deal with them? This has maligned the image of the town.”Manali Hoteliers Association president Gajender Thakur said Himachal is ‘devbhoomi’ and such activities cannot be tolerated. “If any hotelier is found providing shelter or involved in this trade, the association will take strict action against him. We have formed three teams that will raid the hotels on suspicion,” he said.Police here have registered only six cases of immoral trafficking in recent years. Dozens of websites are also offering girls in Manali. Last year police have busted a racket where sex trade was being done online.

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