Nagpur: Police’s ongoing “Operation Shakti”—aimed at dismantling human trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation networks—has led to the arrest of a 21-year-old youth from Rajasthan for allegedly luring and forcing a 17-year-old girl into prostitution.

According to Lakadganj Police, on September 26, between 11 am and 12 noon, a tip-off revealed that a minor girl had been brought to Nagpur from Rajasthan under the pretext of marriage. The accused, identified as Shubham alias Poriya Manoria Janjawat, a resident of Shankarpura, Dablana, Bundi district (Rajasthan), allegedly coerced the girl into sex work in the city’s Ganga Jamuna red-light area with the help of two local women.

When the survivor resisted, the accused reportedly molested her. Acting swiftly, a police team apprehended Shubham near the Sulabh toilet close to Ganga Jamuna police outpost. During interrogation, he confessed to the crime.

Based on the survivor’s complaint, Lakadganj Police registered offences under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The minor has been placed in a women’s shelter home, and further investigation is underway to trace other accomplices.

The operation was executed under the supervision of Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singhal, Additional CP Navinchandra Reddy, Additional CP (Crime) Vasant Pardeshi, DCP (Zone-3) Rahul Madane, ACP Shweta Khande. Lakadganj Police Inspector Hemant Chandewar and team.