Bangladeshi Victim Rescued from Lodge on Pune-Ahmednagar Hwy

Outside the lodge where Ashifa was held

On March 17, 2025, we received intel that some “new girls,” including minors and majors, would be offered to customers at a lodge on the Pune-Ahmednagar Highway. 

On March 18, we verified this information. We also learned that a suspected minor from Bangladesh, Ashifa, was among the sexually exploited girls at the lodge. She was to be moved to another location shortly, so we had to act quickly. 

Later that day, our team met the Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP of the Crime Branch. After sharing the evidence with him, he agreed to assign a police team to initiate a raid. 

At 5 p.m., we received confirmation that Ashifa was at the lodge. When we reached out to the police to initiate the raid, they said they were not ready to initiate a raid.  Instead, they sent two police motorbikes to the lodge as witnesses. This alerted the brothel when they saw police vehicles approaching. The police turned off their front lights, but it was too late, and shortly afterwards we learned that all the girls were moved from the lodge.

Ashifa (center) after her rescue

On March 19, we met the DCP and reported on the previous day’s failed rescue. He

assured our team that he would enlist the help of the Crime Branch.

At 7:15 p.m. on March 19, the police and our team raided the lodge. We rescued Ashifa, the suspected minor, and the police arrested four males. The police continued with their post-rescue procedures and collected all incriminating evidence from the brothel. 

Later that night, the police registered a First Information Report at the Lonikand Police Station. The victim, Ashifa, refused to divulge any details about herself or how she ended up in India.

We accompanied Ashifa to a medical check-up. The police then placed Ashifa in a shelter home where she remains safe.