Ranchi, March 24: In Dhanbad, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) deployed in various collieries are acting as agents encouraging flesh trade.

Some lodges in Lalpur and Kutchery Chowk are rent out for the purpose, reveals a study by the Child In Need Institute (CINI).

There are 1,101 commercial sex workers in Dhanbad, 400 in Ranchi and 1,000 in Hazaribagh, the study revealed.

Alarmingly, 8.2 per cent of the total sex workers in Dhanbad are suffering from genital ulcer.

“The CISF men in the collieries are acting as agents, as the clients are known to them,” said Sushanta Jena, a personnel of the Gram Pradyougik Vikas Sansthan (GPVS), which did the mapping for CINI in Dhanbad.

The commercial sex workers are in demand in collieries in Jharia, Lodna and Katras. The GPVS also claimed that there are several “flying” sex workers, who take up the flesh trade on days they are jobless.

Katras More, Singh Nagar, Jamadoba, Bagidih, Court More, Putki and Kendua Bazaar are known places for flesh trade.

The study also revealed that some college and hospital campuses in Dhanbad are used for the purpose.

In Ranchi, the most common places for flesh trade are Lalpur, Upper Bazaar, Ratu Road and Ranchi station (platform no. 3). The mapping here was done by the Srijan Foundation, on behalf of CINI.

“Crowded areas such as Kutchery Chowk, Lalpur Chowk and Upper Bazaar are places where one can fix the rates,” said Rajiv Kumar, a functionary of Srijan Foundation. Kumar, however, did not reveal the names of the lodges used for the purpose.

The study for Hazaribagh has revealed that sex workers are concentrated in the blocks along NH-22. Chauparan, Madhari, Barhi, Barkata and Ichak blocks are the highly affected areas of the district.

The GPVS also claimed that a brothel was functioning in Dhansar, Dhanbad. Cini carried out the mapping in order to prevent HIV/AIDS among commercial sex workers.