Two women in their 20s, allegedly forced into flesh trade at a lodge in Nalasopara, were rescued by the Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (AHTC) of the Mira-Bhayander Vasai-Virar (MBVV) police on Friday. The lodge’s manager, who was accused of pimping the women to clients, was also arrested in the operation.

The lodge, Dolphin Cottage, is located at Kalamb beach in Nalasopara West. An officer told mid-day that, lodge manager Vishal Shivaji Hire, 22, would lure male customers by showing them photos of young women. When AHTC officials got a tip-off, they laid out a trap to catch the accused red-handed. This was done under the supervision of DCP Crime Avinash Ambure, ACP Amol Mandve and Inspector Santosh Chaudhari of AHTC.