We first heard about Purvi, a minor victim who was being sexually exploited while we were investigating Nagpur’s red light area Ganga Jamuna in 2023. We were unable to plan any rescue operation as the brothel keeper kept moving Purvi to different locations. When Purvi was moved to Mumbai, we were unable to track Purvi and the trail went cold.
Last year we got intel that Purvi was back in Nagpur. We tried to find her new location but were unable to get any solid leads.
In February 2025 we were able to track Purvi. She was being sexually exploited at a brothel in Ganga Jamuna. As soon as we gathered sufficient evidence, we spoke with the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP, Nagpur. We requested her to initiate a raid and rescue Purvi.
On 13th February the police and our team were ready to initiate a raid. However we faced multiple issues on the field. We tried to solve the issues one by one so the police could go ahead with the raid but it got too late and the police team left the location. We were hoping the police and our team would be able to rescue Purvi the next day.
On 14th February we spoke to the police and developed a rescue plan. We were in Ganga Jamuna by 10 am. At 10:31 am as soon as we got intel that Purvi was at the brothel, the police and our team raided the brothel. We found and rescued Purvi right away. Purvi had her 18 month old son and her mother with her. Her mother turned out to be the brothel keeper. Purvi was rescued and her mother was detained by the police. After the police completed their initial reports, Purvi, the accused and our team proceeded to the police station.
While at the police station, the DCP called us up and asked us to share Purvi’s rehabilitation plan with her. We were able to briefly share about our rehabilitation program; life skill sessions in shelter homes, vocational training and workshops and follow up visits with survivors released from shelter homes with her.
The police completed filing the First information report. They included Sections 3, 4,5, 6 of the PITA Act( The Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act) and Section 143 Under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita BNS Act 2023.
Purvi has been placed in a shelter home. Her mother is in police custody. Her 18 month old son is staying with his aunt, Purvi’s elder sister’s family. The superintendent of the shelter home told Purvi her son could live in the shelter home with her but she refused.
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