By NE NOW NEWS
Guwahati: Jorhat Police detained 15 people, including seven women and eight men, during a late-night raid at a luxury hotel near National Highway 37 on Monday as part of an investigation into a suspected prostitution network.
The operation was carried out at Orchid Hotel after police received information suggesting that the premises were being used for activities linked to an alleged prostitution racket.
Addressing the media, Additional Superintendent of Police (Crime Branch) Abhishek Kumar Yadav said the women detained during the operation were being treated as potential victims pending the outcome of the investigation.
“We conducted the operation based on credible information regarding suspected illegal activities at the hotel. Seven women were found on the premises and, at this stage, we are treating them as victims until the investigation is completed and any evidence against them, if any, is established,” Yadav said.
Police are also examining allegations that a network operating from the hotel may have been facilitating the movement of women to different parts of upper Assam and nearby districts. Officials said the claims remain under investigation and conclusions would be drawn only after evidence is examined.
Several items considered relevant to the investigation were recovered during the raid, police said.
Yadav said the eight men detained from the hotel were being questioned as part of the investigation and were currently being treated as persons of interest.
“Eight men were also apprehended from the hotel. They are being treated as persons of interest for the purpose of investigation. Their involvement, if any, will be determined only after a detailed inquiry and examination of the evidence,” he said.
Police also carried out evidence collection and forensic documentation during the operation.
“We are in the process of seizing and examining evidence recovered from the hotel rooms and other parts of the premises. The operation was conducted because we had reasonable grounds to suspect that unlawful activities were taking place there,” Yadav added.
Officials said further action could follow as the investigation progresses and additional individuals linked to the case are being examined.