Manali police conducted a late-night raid at a hotel in Aleo, arresting a woman from Punjab suspected of operating as a pimp. Two women were detained and the hotel manager taken into custody for allegedly facilitating prostitution. Police have booked the accused under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and are investigating a wider network involving hotels and agents.
Manali police have intensified their crackdown on organized human trafficking, arresting a woman from Punjab suspected of operating as a pimp during a late-night raid at a hotel in the Aleo area. The operation, conducted on the intervening night of Tuesday (10th June, 2026), also led to the detention of two women and the arrest of the hotel manager for allegedly facilitating illegal activities.
Key Points
- Police raided a hotel in Aleo, Manali, on a tip-off about organized prostitution.
- A woman from Punjab was arrested for allegedly acting as a pimp; two women detained for questioning.
- Hotel manager taken into custody for facilitating the illegal activities.
- Accused booked under Sections 3 and 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
- Several hotels in Manali under scrutiny for involvement in a network bringing women from Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh.
According to Manali SHO K.D. Sharma, the accused have been booked under Sections 3 and 4 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. “The accused are being interrogated to gather further information about the network and identify other individuals involved,” Sharma said. Police sources indicated that several hotels in and around Manali are under scrutiny for allegedly facilitating prostitution by arranging services of women brought from the states of Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Chandigarh through a network of agents and middlemen.
Authorities estimate that the number of active sex workers in the region increases significantly during the peak tourist season. The law enforcement official stated that further raids would continue to dismantle the network. “We have received numerous complaints regarding such activities. Strict action will be taken not only against those directly involved but also against hotel owners found facilitating illegal operations,” he said. Authorities warned that establishments found functioning as brothels could face closure and legal action.
Local residents have long expressed concern over the alleged growth of prostitution-related activities in the town. Several residents claim that women soliciting clients can frequently be seen in public areas, including Mall Road and nearby tourist spots. They allege that repeated complaints had been made to authorities in the past, but meaningful action had been limited. Sources familiar with the investigation said that the network is allegedly being operated by agents from outside the state with the support of local contacts and certain hospitality operators. The women involved are often recruited through intermediaries, with many reportedly entering the trade due to financial hardship.
Investigators are also examining reports suggesting that some establishments may be using the availability of commercial sex services as a means of attracting customers. Intelligence inputs have further indicated that a few businesses in the region operate primarily around such activities, while allegedly using entertainment venues as a cover for illegal operations. Police officials have assured that investigations will continue and that all individuals found violating the law will be dealt with strictly in accordance with legal provisions.