15 January,2010 09:20 AM IST | | Kaumudi Gurjar
Acting on a tip-off received by an NGO, a team of cops led by ACP Ranjeet Dhure raided the third floor of Tulsa building in 1024 Budhwar Peth at around mid-night and rescued three girls who were forced into prostitution.
The girls, including two minors, were brought to the city on the pretext of providing them jobs.
The police also arrested four brothel keepers and booked them under various sections of Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act. Those arrested have been identified as Kancha, Rubina (21), Deepa Thapa (40), Pinki Thapa (45). However, the main culprit Nanda managed to give the cops a slip.
Narrating the experience that they had to go through, one of the minor girls told MID DAY, "A girl named Kajol along with an unidentified person brought me and my maternal cousin from Jalpaigudhi. We were sent to different brothels and then were forced into prostitution."
She added that the brothel keeper used to threaten and rebuke her. "Mujhe aunty ka darr lagta hai," she said.
The other minor girl said that she was brought to the city on pretext of giving her a job. "I have done my schooling till Std IX and had come here expecting that I'll get a decent job. However, I was fooled and pushed into flesh trade," she said.
Another woman said that she was brought by Hawrah Express and was given some pills after which she fell asleep. "When I asked Tara aunty (brothel keeper) to let me go, she told me that I can but only after I earn enough money. Now I have to earn and this dhanda is the only way out."