Sex-racket kingpin lands in police net

ALAPPUZHA: Wanted sex-racket kingpin Musthafa, landed in police net as Andhra police ended in Salem an 'operation' that began in Alappuzha. Incidentally, the Kerala police was unaware of the whole affair.

Musthafa headed the gang that had transported more than three hundred girls to various foreign countries including Singapore and Malaysia. The Andhra police had earlier declared an award of Rs 10 lakhs for those who could help them get hold of this notorious criminal. The noose tightened around Musthafa as he recently brought two teenage girls to Alappuzha. The girls, who were fourteen and fifteen years old respectively, were made to stay in Hashim's house in Alappuzha. Hashim, an auto driver is Musthafa's friend. Mustafa, who claimed that the two girls were his own daughters also lived in this house.

Acting on a tip off, the Andhra police came to Alappuzha in search of Musthafa. Unfortunately, by the time the police located Hashim's house with the help of local residents, Musthafa had already escaped. The police took Hashim into custody. The parents of the two girls were summoned to Alappuzha. Attempts to contact Musthafa from Hashim's phone failed. With the help of three local residents, the police searched the lodges in Alappuzha. When Musthafa was contacted again from Hashim's phone, the former answered the call. Posing as Hashim's brother, one of the local residents talked to Musthafa. He told Musthafa to come back and get the girls as he had settled the issue with the Kerala police by bribing them Rs10000. Musthafa demanded to bring the girls to Salem by car. The resident said that the girls would be sent by bus and also told Musthafa to pick the girls at Salem, to which Musthafa agreed. After, boarding the children along with their parents in the bus, the Andhra police also journeyed along with them to Salem. Musthafa who was waiting there was nabbed.