Police in Belthangady, an area in the Mangaluru district, reportedly found an alleged prostitution racket operating from inside a canteen near the KEB office, located under the Belthangady Town Panchayat limits.
Belthangady police searched based on reliable information as to certain illegal activities supposedly taking place here. They saved a young woman and arrested three people suspected of being involved in the racket.
The canteen, entitled the “Pawan Canteen”, was run by 55-year-old Sundar Shetty living in Poyyagudde, Padangady village, according to the police report. According to authorities, the canteen had been in business for nearly 20 years.
Investigators discovered that the canteen was closed on Sundays and that prostitution was being practised on the premises. The accused had also established a separate bedroom and toilet facility within the building, police said, to help facilitate the illegal activities.
Sundar Shetty reportedly introduced women into the scene and arranged prostitution for patrons, authorities said. Two suspected customers were also arrested during the raid and were said to be in attendance. The arrested accused are Sundar Shetty, 55, Husman, 38, residing in Navooru and Haidar, 45, from Kalleri.
They said they have opened a case at the Belthangady Police Station, where the investigation is now going on. Authorities are also looking into whether the racket was widespread enough or whether its owners had been continuing their operations for years without being caught.
Residents are shocked that the alleged actions were on a government land site near a public office, the incident said. Police officials said they will take aggressive legal action against all those connected to the circumstances.
