32 women rescued from forced work as pub dancers

Following Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy's call to monitor nightlife activities violating government rules, the East division police raided a pub at Indiranagar and rescued 32 women.

The women, claimed to be employed as bartenders, were performing live dances to entertain customers at the pub, located on 80 Feet Road, on the night of June 30.

Following a tip-off, a police team from the Jeevanbheema Nagar station, led by PSI Arun Salunke along with constable Murali, went to the Mango Tree Bistro Bar posing as customers and found women skimpily dressed and dancing to music to entertain customers.

Salunke informed his seniors, who rushed to the pub and rescued all 32 women. The police have booked the pub owner and manager of the bar under IPC Sections 370 (buying or disposing of any person as a slave) and Section 294 (obscene acts and songs), and are further investigating.

The management, for its part, claimed that it had hired the women as bartenders. But they illegally forced the women to dance to lure customers, a senior police officer said.

In June, City Police Commissioner T Suneel Kumar directed his men to crack the whip on illegal dance bars mushrooming in the city, especially after the newly formed coalition government began its tenure.

Kumar observed that bar and restaurants that employ women are forcing them into illegal activities, violating the guidelines, and asked his subordinates to take stringent action.

Following the orders, the Central and West division police cracked down on a few pubs, starting June.

Several residents in the area have complained to the police about the loud music and nuisance created by the pubs functioning in the neighbourhood. Residents welfare associations have also accused the establishments of running illegal dance bars and threatened to protest if the police did not act.

On June 3, the Ashok Nagar police raided the Times Bar and Restaurant on Residency Road for running a live band, and had booked the management under IPC Section 294 (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place).