The Mumbai Police has raided a bar and detained 13 girls and the bar manager and customers on late Monday evening.
Acting on a tip-off, the officials of the Social Service Branch of police arrived at the place and detained the girls whom they suspected of being minor.
The Police suspect a prostitution racket functioning at the bar.
Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mumbai Police, B G Shekhar, said that age of the girls would be determined only after medical tests were completed.
“We had information that this bar runs shows of girls dancing. Based on our in information, the Social Service Branch raided the bar and found 13 girls and we are taking action accordingly. We will have to send them for medical tests to determine whether they are minor or not, but they do look minor,” he said.
He added that when police entered the bar, the bar manager was trying to help the girls escape.
Prostitution is still illegal in India, although it is a thriving underground industry.
Voluntary groups estimate that there are about two million female sex workers, most of them trafficked or forced into the work by poverty.
Meanwhile, the Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) act is meant to combat trafficking of females as well as prostitution in the city.
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