Yet another disgrace

The Kerala Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested the anti-moral policing activists who have been running an online sex racket trafficking women including minors to rich clients.

A special police team busted the racket run by the leaders of the controversial ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign in the state, Rahul Pashupalan and his wife and model, Reshmi S Nair, for advertising and arranging commercial sex online. Probe centered on Kozhikode, Malappuram, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram eventually arresting Rahul and Reshmi near the Nedumbassery airport. ‘Operation Big Daddy’, a state wide undercover operation launched in October against online sex rackets led by the Crime Branch IG S. Sreejith with the support of the Cyber police led to the arrests. The police exposed the racket by tracking the phone numbers published on free online classified portal Locanto. A Facebook page ‘Kochu Sundarikal’ that carried photos of young girls with vulgar comments had recently hit the headlines. The ‘Kiss of Love’ activists have been carrying out flesh trade using the international portal. Even though many sex rackets have operated in the state as well as been exposed, it’s the first time an online racket has been busted. The full details of the case are yet to be found, so are all the persons involved. According to IG Sreejith, whether any other similar groups were operating in the state is also yet to be found out. The sensational headlines have however saddened the people. The fact that young girls are also being supplied for the trade that is carried out with the help of social media and latest technology is shocking. The women are supplied to the rich clients from even outside the state. Those operating the sex racket as well as the clients are both criminals and anti social elements. The judiciary should be vigilant enough to award unsympathetic and severe punishment to the accused.

Rahul and his wife Reshmi rose to fame last year after they organized the ‘Kiss of Love’ movement against the anti-moral policing tendencies in the society. Hailed as the brand ambassadors of the liberal secular brigade by the media as well as the liberal intellectuals, they became symbols of the campaign against sexual harassment and gender discrimination. The couple has been active in social and political debates in the media and a prominent TV channel had listed Rahul as the leading newsmakers of 2014. The police said that he operated as the administrator of the Facebook page for trapping young girls. The reality that the person who endorsed gender politics on an open platform has been the leader of a disgraced flesh trade could only be viewed with cynicism. ‘Kiss of Love’ movement upheld liberal sexuality and rejection of morality. Even though contradictory opinions and tendencies were prevalent in our society, there had been no disagreement in the fact that it was a political approach. One might be left dubious thinking whether the neo-sexual politics that is growing with the support of the Leftist youth in the state, is a bogus name for flesh trade. Whatever it is, it’s the duty of the concerned authorities to take appropriate steps to tackle sex rackets and the people involved. Since there are people who strongly oppose the ‘Kiss of Love’ campaign, their compulsion and prejudices shouldn’t influence the fair legal procedures. Given that the accused are famed persons in the society having an extensive and influential friend circle, there should be no loopholes for them to escape. The shocking reality that even people who claim to be and the people deem to be at the helm of the society are ambassadors of such shameful notions and dealings is disturbing.