7 Rescued from Ahmednagar Brothel

On December 3, 2025, we received intel for two victims who were being forced into prostitution at a brothel on the Ahmednagar-Solapur Highway. Our team prepared to travel to Ahmednagar to verify the lead.

We received further intel about the location; it was a brothel on a ground floor of a building which utilized the first few rooms. This included a common hall, a cooking area, and four restrooms. 

On December 4, based on our intel, our team strongly suspected that one of the victims was a minor.

On December 5, our intervention team travelled to Ahmednagar and arrived at 10:45 a.m. We sought the support of the local police, but learned that the Superintendent of Police (SP) was on leave until December 8. As advised, our team met and shared our intel with the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP), and submitted a written request for rescue, as well as details about Freedom Firm. The ASP said he did not want to involve an NGO (non-government organization) and stated that the police would handle the rescue independently. He expressed reluctance toward our involvement but said they would call us if they needed anything. We waited the entire day for an update from the police and finally heard from them in the evening: no officers were available that day or over the weekend to conduct a raid. 

So we reached out to the Anti- human Trafficking Unit (AHTU) police and they told us to return on Tuesday, December 9.

On December 8, our Pune team’s Liaison Officer received a call from the Head Constable, who confirmed coordination with our team for a rescue operation the next day. 

On Tuesday, December 9, we met the AHTU in Ahmednagar. We discussed rescue strategies, and at 5 p.m. the police and our team raided the brothel and rescued a minor girl, 17-year-old Samrah, along with 6 adult women. The police apprehended an intoxicated accused and detained (but later released) two customers. Two girls escaped through a back exit of the building. Our team faced some hurdles during the rescue operation but persisted with collecting evidence.

After some delays, the first information report (FIR) was finally registered at 4:09 a.m. on December 10. All victims and staff remained at the police station overnight. At 2:30 p.m. on December 10, we accompanied the 7 victims to their medical tests which commenced at 5 p.m.. The victims were then produced before the Judicial Magistrate of First Class Court, Shirgonda, and their statements were recorded on camera. The court ordered for the 6 adult victims to stay at a One Stop Center (temporary shelter) for 7 days and the 17-year-old Samrah was placed in a shelter home. The adult rescued women were later placed in a Government Observation Home in Ahmednagar.