Police in Pune, India, have rescued 11 Bangladeshi women from a brothel in the Budhwar Peth area following a late-night raid. The operation was carried out around 12:30 am on February 18 by a large police team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-1) Rishikesh Rawal, according to Indian media reports.
Authorities said the raid was triggered by a complaint from a Bangladeshi woman who alleged she had been forced into prostitution and accused a police constable of involvement. Officials reported that the women were being held illegally and coerced into sex work. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar stated that the brothel premises would be sealed and cases filed under India’s Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act.
Police also announced that steps have begun to repatriate the rescued women to Bangladesh. This marks the second major operation in the same area within a week; on February 12, officers rescued two Bangladeshi women and several minors from nearby brothels.
Indian authorities have previously conducted similar rescues involving Bangladeshi nationals, including operations in October and August last year that freed young women and a minor allegedly forced into prostitution.
Source: Desh Rupantor, citing Times of India
Bangladesh Feminist Archives 