NAGPUR: City police chief Amitesh Kumar on Wednesday cordoned off the red-light locality of Ganga Jamuna following a meeting of local residents. The decision has raised questions over survival of 1,200 to 1,500 female sex workers without livelihood.
Kumar said that police had acted upon the feedback and complaints of local residents who had raised voices against the illegal activities there. “A notification under section 7 of the PITA Act and 144 CrPc would be issued shortly prohibiting flesh trade activities here. Anyone stepping into the locality for such activities would be prosecuted,” he said adding the residents of the brothels can continue their stay and have access to essential services in an uninterrupted manner.
Easo Daniel, executive director of Sharanstan Charitable Society, said he welcomed the idea of stopping flesh trade but the women must be rehabilitated on priority without jeopardizing their right to life.
Hemlata Lohave, project manager of Indian Red Cross Ssociety, asked when government had planned to deny the right to life to these women, then why in the first place it provided them food and ration during the lockdown and why Aids programmes were implemented here.
Mayor Dayashankar Tiwari said that he held a telephonic talk with the top cop over the issue. “The CP called me and sought support to shut down the city’s red light area. Amitesh Kumar informed me that not only illegal activities but also brazenly minors are being forced into flesh trade. As a social cause, I too promised full support of the NMC to the city police,” the mayor said.
Senior NMC officials, including chief B Radhakrishnan, however claimed they are yet unaware of police plan.
