Police in Mysuru, Karnataka, busted a disturbing sex racket where young girls were allegedly pushed into prostitution amid superstitious claims that intercourse with virgin girls could cure mental illness. A 12-year-old girl was rescued, and two accused—Shobha and her aide Tulsi Kumar—were arrested after a trap laid with the help of an NGO.
Mysuru Police Crack Down on Exploitation Racket
Mysuru, Karnataka – In a shocking revelation, the Mysuru police, along with activists from Odanadi Seva Samsthe, rescued a minor girl and arrested two people who were allegedly running a sex racket fueled by dangerous superstitions.
According to officials, the accused convinced desperate families and individuals that intercourse with virgin girls could cure mental health issues—a baseless and harmful belief. Acting on a tip-off, police intervened before a 12–13-year-old girl could be exploited.
How the Sex Racket Was Busted
The case came to light after Odanadi Seva Samsthe, an NGO working for women and child welfare, received information that a woman was offering a minor girl to potential customers. Shockingly, the girl was even shown through a WhatsApp video as part of negotiations.
The NGO alerted the police and devised a plan. An undercover staff member posed as a customer and approached the accused. When the woman, identified as Shobha, agreed to bring the minor girl to Mysuru for a meeting, police laid a trap.
On September 27, Shobha arrived at the Government Girls’ Children’s Home in Vijayanagar 4th Phase with the girl, while her accomplice, Tulsi Kumar, monitored the situation from a distance.
Police Rescue and Arrest
As negotiations began, the accused initially claimed the girl was her daughter, then her niece, later her adopted child—before finally admitting involvement in prostitution. Police moved in quickly, rescued the minor, and arrested both Shobha and Kumar.
Authorities revealed that the accused were demanding an astonishing ₹20 lakh to arrange sexual exploitation of the girl. They added that this was part of a larger network that targets men struggling with mental health, exploiting superstitions to push minors into prostitution.
Following the rescue, the girl was placed under protection at the children’s home. The arrested duo were produced before a judge and remanded to judicial custody.
A Grim Reminder of Superstition-Driven Crimes
The incident highlights how dangerous and exploitative superstitious beliefs can become when combined with organized crime. Experts note that such cases reflect the urgent need for awareness campaigns and strict enforcement of child protection laws.
Officials urged citizens to stay vigilant and report suspicious activities to authorities. They stressed that myths linking sexual exploitation to “cures” for illness are both unscientific and deeply harmful, causing trauma to innocent children.
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