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Kolkata Vice Ring Busted: Trio Apprehended for Digital Extortion and Illegal Confinement in Red-Light District

Agency Source: Latest News: Read Latest News Live, India's Latest News Today | Hindustan Times Bureau Release: February 2, 2026 | 12:32 IST
Primary Intelligence Visual
In a significant law enforcement operation, Kolkata authorities have dismantled a sophisticated extortion ring operating within the city's red-light district, resulting in the arrest of three female suspects. The investigation reveals a calculated scheme where the perpetrators allegedly confined a male victim and systematically extorted approximately ₹89,000 through digital payment platforms. This case highlights an emerging trend of traditional criminal enterprises adapting to modern financial technologies to exploit victims. Preliminary analysis suggests the operation was methodically planned, leveraging the isolated environment of the district to facilitate unlawful restraint while utilizing online transaction systems to obscure financial trails and expedite fund transfers. The swift police response underscores enhanced surveillance and coordination mechanisms within sensitive urban zones. This incident serves as a critical intelligence marker for cyber-enabled extortion tactics converging with physical coercion in metropolitan vice economies, prompting recommendations for strengthened digital forensic protocols and targeted patrol strategies in such high-risk areas to prevent similar hybrid criminal methodologies.

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