Seven persons, including three women, were arrested and forwarded to court by Tangarplai police here on Friday allegedly for forcing a minor girl into prostitution.
The matter came to the fore while investigating one dowry torture case against a man, who was staying with the girl on regular basis. On the complaint of the victim girl, police arrested seven persons from different locations of the city.
Sources said one woman of Basanti Colony area of the city had lodged a complaint against her husband under section 498 (a), alleging that her husband was torturing her and regularly residing with another girl in Balijodi area of the city. Tangarpalli police station registered a case and started an investigation. During investigation, the police came to know that accused Santosh Panda, husband of the complainant woman, was staying with a minor girl in Balijodi area. It was found that Pappu Swain, who is boy friend of the girl, was using her in prostitution.
The arrested were identified as Santosh Panda, Pappu Swain, Rajesh Yadab and Pradeep Prusty, among others. “All the seven persons have been forwarded to court on Friday,” said Tangerpalli police station IIC Somanath Jena.