Nagpur: The city police have been implementing a ‘six-point agenda’ to deal with flesh trade issues in the red-light locality of
Ganga Jamuna, and put a brake on inter-state trafficking. Over around one year, this campaign has resulted in the arrest of 243 women, 75 men, and the rescue of 10 minors.
Around 39 offences under various provisions, especially Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (ITPA), have been registered since the agenda was implemented at Ganga Jamuna in mid-2017 till April this year.
The agenda revolves around protection of women and children, prevention of trafficking, and strict vigilance against any obscenity at public places. This has led to preventive actions for obscene activities at public places against 468 persons in 2017, and another 56 till April this year. The action is mostly undertaken by special anti-women atrocity ‘Damini Squad’, and a dedicated team from
Lakadganj police station within whose limits the red-light locality is situated.
Under the strategy, a team from Lakadganj police station has been deployed under a woman assistant PI. The team comprises one sub-inspector and six constables for round-the-clock patrolling and checks. Apart from vigilance, the team is also engaged in collecting information and conducting raids under the supervision of Senior PI Santosh Khadekar and Zonal DCP Rahul Maknikar.
Meetings conducted in the locality by cops, engaging NGOs and social workers, where the main theme is curtailing the trend of pushing minors into flesh trade, and discouraging trafficking.
Maknikar said their latest move is to ensure illegal constructions are demolished by the civic authorities, and also seal places where successful raids result in rescue of women and minors. “Section 18(1) of ITPA is invoked to seal premises, which is now our goal in the red-light localities after raids,” he said.
The Zonal DCP said their prime concern is regarding bunkers and concealed chambers being prepared inside houses or brothels, where minors and young women are hidden by the brothel-keepers, managers and agents. “We have already written to the NMC zone to conduct a survey and demolish additional constructions and encroachments, which would expose brothel owners during raids,” he said.
Maknikar said NGOs would be engaged even more in the coming days with multiple objectives like creating awareness against trafficking, and ensuring rights of the children, including in rescue and rehabilitation.
