Police on Saturday carried out raids in Baripada town and detained a number of youths and girls in connection with sex trade.
Raids were conducted in three lodgings in the heart of the town and detained as many as 30 youths and girls. Police also seized several objectionable items.
Locals alleged that such rackets were in operation for a long time with the active connivance of the hotel and lodge owners.
But local officials and police surprisingly did not have any inkling about it or may be reasons best known to them they turned a blind eye.
Notably, a few days ago, similar raids were carried out in some hotels in Baleswar and the managers and staffs were arrested for facilitating sex trade in their establishments.