‘ Police propagating trafficking biz at GB Road’

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New Delhi, July 19: DCW chief Swati Maliwal on Thursday wrote to Special CP ( Crime) alleging that the local police station at GB Road, the largest redlight area in the national capital, was involved in “propagating” the trafficking business.

She urged that the staff of the police station should be rotated frequently and only competent officers be appointed in the sensitive area.

Ms Maliwal also sought installation of CCTV cameras near the police station as well as main areas of the brothels, a statement issued by the women’s panel said.

She pointed out various lapses by the Delhi Police in the trafficking cases registered at GB Road.

For instance, despite being at very little distance ( 200m) from GB Road, the Delhi police has not been able to conduct any raid in the past two

The DCW pointed out that despite being at very little distance from GB Road, the police has not been able to conduct any raid in the past two years in the area on its own accord years in the area on its own accord. The raids were conducted only on information received from NGOs and/ or the Delhi Commission for Women ( DCW), the statement said.

Several survivors rescued by the commission have stated that police officials inform brothel owners of raids in advance, it said.

Also, a few days after the arrest of an accused Afaaq, 42 officers were transferred from the local police station at Kamla Market due to alleged links of the accused with some policemen of crime branch, the panel said.

The DCW chief sought to know why no strict action was taken against the policemen.

Listing another instance, Ms Maliwal said, in an inquiry conducted by DCP Central on complaint of a rescued girl, it was revealed that nearly 50 per cent staff of Kamla Market police station were in touch with owners and managers of several brothels.

The girl had stated that police assist brothel owners to hide minors and young girls before raids, she said.

“Maliwal has written that these incidents hint at a direct collusion of certain section of police with the brothel owners, and the commission during its raids has been deeply perturbed by the local police’s apathy in the matter,” the statement stated.

The women panel head also recommended strong action against erring police officials.