Police have launched a search operation for a mother-son duo accused of allegedly torturing and assaulting a woman in their residence in Domjur in Howrah district and also forcing her into prostitution for nearly five months, an official said on Sunday.
The victim, who managed to escape on Friday and reached her family in the North 24 Parganas district, is currently undergoing treatment at the College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital, the police said.
The family filed a complaint at the Khardah police station and has claimed that the victim was also subjected to severe physical and mental torture, which includes beating with rods and cigarette burns on her body.
The National Commission for Women (NCW), meanwhile, has taken suo motu cognisance of the case.
The victim’s mother alleged that her daughter, seeking employment to support the family, met the accused Aryan on social media in December 2024. He allegedly offered her a job at his event management company and took her to Domjur in Howrah.
“They (accused) wanted to make her do bad things. When she did not agree, they locked her up and tortured her,” the victim’s mother alleged.
According to the police, the accused face a number of allegations, which also includes operating a production house —‘Aryan Ishara’ — to lure young people promising them work in films, only to allegedly produce and direct pornographic videos and force individuals into prostitution.
Local businessman Masud Alam Khan has alleged that the accused woman had a daughter, who died by suicide after being forced by her mother and brother to engage in illicit activities.
A senior police officer confirmed that efforts are underway to arrest the accused and all allegations will be thoroughly investigated.
“We came to know about this heinous incident through the media and took action on our own. A complaint has been registered with the National Commission for Women. We will inform the local police station and ask them to cooperate in taking appropriate action against the culprits,” NCW member Archana Majumdar said on Sunday.
She also voiced concern over the increasing incidents of atrocities against women in West Bengal, emphasising that such occurrences contribute to a sense of insecurity among women in the state.