Haflong June 27: A woman constable of Assam police and her sister were arrested yesterday for their alleged involvement in a sex racket in Dima Hasao district.

Monila Langthasa, an Assam police constable posted at Jorabat police outpost, around 22km from Guwahati, and her sister Lili, were arrested from Guwahati and Haflong respectively after an 18-year-old from Dihangi village, 50km from here, alleged that the duo had taken her to Guwahati and forced her into the flesh trade.

According to the parents, Lili asked the victim to accompany her to Guwahati to visit Monila's house.

The victim went with Lili, leaving Dihangi on May 17.

On returning two days later, she complained of fever and weakness.

Her parents said she was admitted to Haflong civil hospital.

She was treated for fever and after a week she was released but again she started to suffer from pain and anxiety.

The parents said she was again taken to hospital. At that juncture, a week later she narrated what had befallen her in Guwahati.

The girl said the sisters had taken her to a hotel in Guwahati and forced her into the flesh trade.

According to the victim's parents, they also threatened her not to tell anyone since they belonged to the police force and "would make her suffer the consequences".

According to Dr Dipali Barman, who treated the girl at the civil hospital, the victim was suffering from "internal infection" and was mentally disturbed.

Dima Hasao superintendent of police G.V. Sivaprasad said both the accused were arrested following the FIR lodged by the victim's parents. They are in three-day police remand.

"We are investigating and if the women are found guilty, they will be punished. The law is the same for all whether one is working in the the police or elsewhere," he added.

Another girl from Dihangi alleged she was also taken to Guwahati by Lili and forced into the flesh trade but had somehow managed to escape.

Residents of Dihangi yesterday held a meeting and asked the accused family to leave the district within three days.

Otherwise, they warned that the family would be "forcefully evicted".

There are reports that the sisters lured many girls from underprivileged families in Dima Hasao villages and pushed them into the sex trade.

"These cases have happened previously in the district but the family members of the victims never approached the police or social organisations. We are trying to convince the villagers to report these incidents to the police and I hope they learn from this incident," S. Phonglo, a social worker, said.