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SONAGACHI RED LIGHT AREA: NHRC SEEKS REPORT FROM WB GOVT

KOLKATA: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Sunday directed the Chief Secretar y of West Bengal to submit a detailed report on the policy framed to "check and prevent" the sex-trade and brothels in Sonagachi area in Kolkata within the next 10 weeks.

The NHRC also directed the Secretar y of Department of Women and Child Development and Social Welfare, Government of West Bengal to expedite the work of conducting a sur vey along with Indian Institute of Science, over the conditions of victims of sex-trade in Sonagachi, from social, legal and health points of view, and submit the report latest by March 11.

The NHRC passed the order acting on a petition by noted human rights activist and Supreme Court lawyer, Radhakanta Tripathy on the plight of trafficked or other-wise engaged sex workers in Sonagachi, the largest red-light area in Asia, situated in Kolkata.

Seeking intervention of the NHRC, the petitioner sought for 'independent impartial investigation' of the matter.