SAD leader held for flesh trade

Tribune News Service

Ropar, July 16

In its drive against flesh trade prevailing in many of the hotels and dhabas in the district, the police arrested the owner of a dhaba on the Ropar-Nangal highway along with his manager and four couples here today. The owner of the dhaba, identified as Sukhinder Singh, is a local leader of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).

The police started its drive immediately after new SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu took over on July 5 as the district police chief. Mediapersons had highlighted the problem of the prevailing flesh trade in and around the town during their first interaction with Sandhu and he had promised to taking strict action regarding it.

Ropar DSP Manvir Singh said a decoy customer was sent at the dhabha and on his confirmation regarding the presence of accused there, a police party conducted a raid and arrested the accused. Sukhinder Singh, however, refuted the allegation.

When the accused were produced in the court in the afternoon, Sukhinder Singh alleged political vendetta. His counsel said there was no illegal entry of guests in the dhaba as his client maintained proper records of guests staying there.

DSP Manvir said all the accused were arrested under Sections 3, 4, 5 and 5A of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.