Sex workers rounded up, harassed by police

Y. Maheswara Reddy | NT
Bengaluru, Nov. 10

 Around 10 sex workers have horrendous experience on Tuesday. A few home guards attached to Upparpet Police Station summoned them to the police station and made them wait for more than five hours.

“I did nothing. I was walking on KG Road when two home guards asked me to accompany them to Upparpet Police Station. I have asked them why I should come to the police station but they were insistent. I had no option but to follow them,” said Sujatha, a sex worker.

The victims said that one home guard was sympathetic, but the other one was rude and even complained to the police inspector against the former for sympathising with the sex workers. “I came to know about police atrocities while I was at the Commandant General Home Guards & Director of the Civil Defence Office at 11 am. I visited the office to complain against home guards attached to Upparpet and City Market Police Stations. I rushed to the Upparpet Police Station to rescue the sex workers but the police inspector abused me with filthy language,” said Geetha M of Sadhana Mahila Sangha, a women sex workers’ collective.

The sex workers told the News Trail that they did not create any nuisance. “I was at the KSRTC Bus Station when the home guards asked me to come to Upparpet Police Station. I merely followed them without anticipating ill-treatment from the police inspector as I did no wrong,’’ said Lakshmi, a sex worker.

The sex workers have said that the police allowed them to go home at around 6 pm that too after collecting Rs 250 from each of them. “The police did not issue receipts. They told us to go to the court if we need receipt for the money paid,” said Rama, a sex worker. Meanwhile, Upparpet Police Inspector has said that police did not collect money from the sex workers. “Our men did not misbehave with the sex workers. Why should they come to this area to do sex work? Why are you supporting the sex workers,” the Police Inspector asked.

The Police Inspector said the sex workers were allowed go home after registering a petty case against them. Meanwhile, Sadhana Mahila Sangha is contemplating to take up the issue with higher authorities.