Thai woman among eight held in Siliguri sex racket

Three women, including one from Thailand, and five men were Saturday arrested in this northern West Bengal town for running a sex racket in a massage parlour, police said.

The eight were picked up when police raided the massage parlour on Sevak Road.

The five men - four customers and the owner - and the women would be presented before the Jalpaiguri district court Sunday, said Siliguri police commissioner Jagmohan.

A police officer said the parlour often recruited women foreigners for the sex racket.

"They used to come to India with valid passport and visa, work as sex workers at the parlour and then return home," said Siliguri deputy police commissioner O.G. Pal.

The parlour was sealed and a case of immoral trafficking lodged against those nabbed.

There have been reports of sex trade in hotels and high-rise buildings in this bustling town, which serves as a gateway to the northeastern states and is also close to the borders with Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh.