Lakhimpur Kheri: Ten persons, including six girls, were arrested after a sex racket was busted by the police here.

The sex racket was operating in a number of localities of the city since long and some of the girls were even sold off in other districts, Deputy Police Superintendent (DySP) Avanishwar Chandra Srivastava said.

“Interrogation with the detained girls disclosed a number of locations where the sex racket was still operating and more raids and arrests were expected soon,” he said.

The police have arrested four men, identified as Maiku and Tanay Verma of Sitapur, Mohit of Lakhimpur and his cousin Sunil, six girls including a teenaged girl and an aged woman.

One of the girls, reported to be minor from Lucknow, was sold in Sitapur, Srivastava said.

The sex racket came to fore after a close relative of the accused tipped police on Sunday about the suspected activities.

Acting on the tip off, DySP took all the accused on surveillance, who then disclosed operation of sex racket in a number of localities.

Later, nightlong searches were carried out at several hideouts in Pipariya, Shiv Colony and six girls were taken into custody. The police also arrested Maiku, Mohit, Sunil and Tanay who were operating the racket with the help of an aged woman.

The DySP said a thorough probe was on in the matter.