Baripada: Police claimed to have busted a sex racket allegedly run by a couple in Baripada town of Odisha's Mayurbhanj district by raiding a house and rescuing two women on Thursday. While the woman Mani Dalei (35) was apprehended, her husband Manabindha Behera is absconding. Police also recovered Rs 21,490 cash, two two-wheelers and other incriminating items from her possession.

The incident came to light following a police complaint by one Binod Kumar Das (40). 

Binod, a resident of Bugudakota in Ward no 18 of Bhanjpur area, alleged that Mani and her husband were operating a sex racket in their village. The accused duo belonged to Titiri village in Kuliana.

In his complaint, he claimed that the couple was staying in a rented accommodation in the house of one Nagen Ghosh since few months. During their stay, locals spotted people visiting their house in late hours of the night. Suspecting illicit activity, they kept a close watch and later got to know that the girls visiting the couple were involved in flesh trade which was being carried out from their house. On getting to know about this, Binod reached out to Bhanjpur police and filed a complaint. 

Acting on it, a case was registered. Subsequent probe led to apprehending Mani and rescuing two women allegedly involved in prostitution. Police said efforts are underway to nab the absconding husband.