Women arrested from beauty parlours and (below) the New Paradise men’s parlour. Pictures by Deepak Kumar and Jai Prakash

Patna, June 27: Raids on beauty parlours and arrest of pimps and sex workers are nothing new in the state capital. However, the police personnel who raided as many as eight men’s parlours in Patna yesterday were taken by surprise when they found libido-enhancing medicines (prescribed mostly for erectile dysfunction) in the secret rooms on the premises.

City superintendent of police Shivdeep Lande, who was leading the raid party, admitted such medicines were a new recovery for the police.

“The police came across several secret rooms with cosy furniture, air conditioners and refrigerators. Apart from contraceptives, the cops also recovered libido-enhancing medicines from at least two of the parlours. This is something surprising for us,” the officer said.

It’s not just the pill that is bothering the men-in-uniform. Of late, the state capital has seen a number of things which are new and nefarious in nature. Recovery of heroin and brown sugar, rave parties and detention of young boys and girls venturing on city roads late in the night are a few examples of the negative influence of the so-called “metro culture” prevalent in big cities. Only last night, a patrol party came across a car parked near the ongoing Disneyland fair in the Patliputra area and detained the young occupants of the car (a girl and boy) who had been out without informing their parents.

“It was just like the Marine Drive in Mumbai where couples are seated in cars till late night. This girl, daughter of a lawyer, was found with the son of a retired additional district magistrate. It was at 1am when a police patrol unit detained them at the Patliputra police station. The girl’s parents approached the police this morning and both of them were let off,” Lande told The Telegraph.

Incidents like these are a recent development in Patna, the officer admitted. On June 20, the police raided the Gol Ghar campus based on a tip-off of a drug deal and arrested six people with 400g of heroin and 300g of brown sugar worth Rs 1.25 crore in the international market. Both the drug sachets were neatly packed and had the mark of Thailand on them.

The police have a suspicion that the contraband is being used in rave parties, which are slowly becoming popular in Patna. On May 8, Gandhi Maidan police raided the Mirchi Cola restaurant where a rave party was being organised. The cops arrested 12 men and four women brought to the party by one Zafar Khan, a pimp who used to arrange sex workers for such get togethers.

“Yes, the capital is witnessing a new trend. Incidents like these have become a concern for police,” another officer said.

Talking about yesterday’s parlour raids, police officers said as many as eight parlours were raided and a total of 10 girls and eight men were arrested.

Police sources said the women arrested from the parlours were mainly brought from places like Burdwan and Siliguri in Bengal on a monthly contract.

“These girls get a meagre sum of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 per month. They are brought to the parlour by fellow women or pimps. The charge per client rests at Rs 600 to Rs 1,000, which is taken by the parlour manager. There are codes for requesting a particular service. The customer, if willing, can pay some tip to the girl for her service. The money from the business goes to a main proprietor who looks after the whole business,” a police officer said.

‘Immoral’ shift

June 26: Raids on eight beauty parlours, 10 girls, eight men arrested

Surprise element: Libido-enhancing pills recovered

June 20: Police raid Gol Ghar campus based on a tip-off of a drug deal, six in net

Surprise element: 400g of heroin and 300g of brown sugar worth Rs 1.25 crore seized

May 8: Gandhi Maidan police raid Mirchi Cola restaurant and arrest 12 men and four women brought by a pimp Zafar Khan

Surprise element: It was a rave party where liquor was available in abundance. Cops suspect use of drugs too