Mangaluru, Feb 3: A prostitution racket, which was allegedly operating from an apartment in Attavar here was busted and four young women, including two minor girls were rescued, police said on Thursday.

A raid was conducted at the apartment based on a complaint from a victim, followed by the department of women and child development and head of a pre-university college, city police commissioner N Shashi Kumar said.

Three people, including two women were arrested in connection with the case. The accused have been charged under various sections of the IPC and POCSO.

Police sources said the minor victims had informed their college authorities about the physical abuse suffered by them. They had also been threatened that their videos will be made public if they did not co-operate.

The minor girls, who are PU students, are being counselled at the Sakhi centre of the women's police station here, the sources said.

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Bengaluru (PTI): The controversy over the alleged removal of sacred threads and other religious symbols during the KCET examination intensified on Saturday, with Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao condemning the act as "inhuman" and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding strict action, calling it a violation of religious rights.

Reacting to the incident at Krupanidhi College in Madivala, the Minister said the government had taken note of the matter and assured transparent action, even as police have registered a case and initiated an investigation.

“The inhuman act of asking students to remove their ear studs, bangles, hijab or sacred thread, and even cutting long sleeves with scissors thereby affecting their morale is unacceptable and condemnable,” Rao said in a post 'X'.

He asserted that examination centres must test students’ knowledge and not undermine their dignity, adding that the government would take stringent steps to prevent recurrence.

The Minister also urged affected students not to lose confidence, saying the government stood firmly with them.

Meanwhile, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Karnataka South, strongly condemned the incident, alleging that it had hurt the religious rights and self-respect of the Hindu community.

“The incident of students removing and cutting off their Janivaras during the CET examination has violated the religious rights, culture and self-respect of the Hindu community,” the organisation said in a press note.

Calling the sacred thread a symbol of religious heritage and dignity, it said, “Society will not tolerate any act that insults it,” and demanded a thorough probe and stringent action against those responsible.

It also pointed out that similar incidents had been reported in the state last year, terming the recurrence “unfortunate and condemnable.”

The organisation further alleged that such incidents were damaging the well-being of society and claimed that some schools and colleges are promoting hatred against the Hindu society.

The row erupted after students alleged that invigilators at the examination centre asked them to remove religious symbols, including the sacred thread, during the Common Entrance Test (CET).

Following the incident, an invigilator was suspended and police 'secured' three staff members for questioning.

The CET is conducted for admission to professional courses across the state.