Delhi Police, DCW chief spar over raids at GB Road brothel

The Delhi Police today rescued three women from a brothel at GB Road here, even as the Delhi Commission For Women (DCW) chief, Swati Maliwal, alleged that 14 other women were allowed by the police to stay back.
The police, however, said the 14 women were found to be above 18 years of age as per their Aadhaar cards, and were staying there of their own volition.
A 27-year-old woman pimp, who was allegedly involved in confining the three women to the brothel, was arrested, they said.
The raid was conducted based on an information by the Child Welfare Committee. The committee had informed the Delhi Police's Crime Branch after the former received a complaint from an NGO that some women were being held captive at a GB Road brothel, said a senior police officer.

The 17 women found at the brothel were counseled by the NGO, out of which, three claimed that they were kept there against their wishes.
The three women, in the age group of 19-26 years, claimed that they were forced into flesh trade, were not paid wages and raped repeatedly, the police officer said.

A case was registered on the basis of their statements, he said.
"The three rescued women are from Nepal and were brought to Delhi either on the pretext of a good job or for marriage. They have been sent to a shelter home. Their bone density test will be done shortly to check whether they are minors," said the officer.

The DCW chief, however, claimed that the Delhi Police did not follow due procedure and that all the women should have been sent to the shelter home.
"Seventeen girls were rescued from GB Road today by CWC and Crime Branch on a tip off from an NGO. But shockingly Crime Branch sent 14 girls back to the brothels, stating 14 girls had their Aaadhar cards showing them as major," she said.
Maliwal said the CWC which has immense powers under the JJ Act had ordered the police to keep all 17 girls in Nirmal Chhaya and get their bone ossification test done.

"They were appearing to be minors and Aadhar Card cannot be relied upon solely," the state women panel chief said.