Bengaluru: Central Crime Branch (CCB) sleuths conducted surprise raids on Saturday night on dance bars in the city and rescued 78 women, many from other states. Over 100 men, including three bouncers and a disc jockey, were also arrested. The police seized Rs 4.25 lakh cash, cash counting machines and musical instruments from the dance bars.
CCB officials said that they are continuing with the investigation to find out whether the women were trafficked into the city to perform at dance bars. Two dance bars — Brigade Night and Restaurant on Brigade Road and Night Queen Bar and Restaurant that were running illegally — were raided. Cases were registered at Ashok Nagar and Kalasipalya police stations.
“We frequently hear of several women, sometimes minors, being rescued from dance bars after raids by jurisdictional police. Most of the rescued women are from other parts from the country and are brought to Bengaluru with the promise of jobs in restaurants. The women are lodged in several paying guest accommodations in the city and are picked up for work by a vehicle owned by the bars. We have started the raids and will continue with them as we get information,” a police source told Deccan Chronicle.
The city police recently issued notices to bars with live bands to adhere to the apex court order and to obtain mandatory permission from the police.
