Police arrested nine people — including three women and a resort employee — following a late-night raid on a resort near Saraswati Banbasti in Lataguri, Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, on Sunday night, 31 August. The operation dismantled an alleged sex racket being operated out of the tourist-area property, police said on Monday.

Who Was Arrested

Among those detained were five youths from Assam and three women who had been residing in Siliguri in north Bengal. According to investigators, one of the women is originally from Haryana and the other two hail from Uttar Dinajpur district, though all three had been living in Siliguri for several years. A resort employee was also taken into custody. All nine were to be produced before a Jalpaiguri court later on Monday, according to an officer from Malbazar police station.

How the Raid Unfolded

Acting on source-based intelligence, a police team conducted the operation late Sunday night and found the women and youths in what officials described as an objectionable condition inside the resort. The alleged racket was reportedly being coordinated by a youth from Lataguri who managed to flee upon learning of the impending raid. Police have launched a search for the absconding suspect.

The operation was led by Malbazar Sub-district Police Officer Sudipta Sarkar, Malbazar Police Station Inspector-in-Charge Paljar Bhutia, and Kranti Outpost Officer-in-Charge Tenzing Bhutia.

What the Police Said

Inspector-in-Charge Paljar Bhutia said the authorities would not tolerate illegal activities at any resort in Lataguri. 'We have arrested several people. We are investigating which other resorts are hosting such illegal activities,' Bhutia said. The statement signals that the crackdown is likely to extend beyond this single operation.

A Pattern of Complaints in Lataguri

This is not the first such bust in the popular tourist town. According to Malbazar police sources, complaints about racketeers operating out of multiple resorts in Lataguri have persisted for a considerable period. Sunday's raid was reportedly the result of sustained intelligence-gathering based on those complaints. The area's status as a tourist destination — drawing visitors to the Gorumara National Park corridor — has, according to police, made it a target for such operations. Notably, the involvement of individuals from multiple states points to an organised network rather than a localised offence.

What Happens Next

With the prime accused still at large, investigators are expected to widen their probe to identify other resorts potentially linked to the racket. The Jalpaiguri court proceedings on Monday will determine the remand status of the nine arrested. A broader sweep of Lataguri's hospitality establishments appears likely, given the police's public commitment to a sustained crackdown.