WHAT IS SECTION 370A?

Following a recent order by Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria to all police stations, the cops have begun booking customers visiting brothels and exploiting trafficked women under the stringent Section 370A.One of the first arrests made under the section was during a raid conducted by the Zone 3 police team along with activists from International Justice Mission (IJM) at Kamathipura on Tuesday. Two 16-year-old girls who were trafficked and forced into prostitution were rescued, and a man visiting the brothel arrested and booked under Section 370A.“In the guise of helping poor and vulnerable women, traffickers force them into prostitution. This order is a great initiative by the police to curb trafficking of women and minors into the flesh trade. People visiting brothels will now be alarmed, and this will prove a deterrent to visit red light districts” said Sanjay Macwan, IJM director.“There must be around one lakh women forced into prostitution across the various red light areas in Mumbai. Of these, around 30 per cent — including a large number of minors — are trafficked every year,” Macwan added.The highest concentration of red light areas is in south Mumbai, followed by Bhandup and Ghatkopar in the east and Malwani in Malad on the west. Many of the women are forced into prostitution after being promised jobs in the city, or even a chance to get into the film and television industry as actors.“We have often come across minors who were lured into the profession by traffickers who offered them roles in television serials and also in films. Places like lodges and massage parlours, besides illegal dance bars, often double up as prostitution dens. So far, customers were usually let off with a minimal penalty, but now the fear of arrest will help curb trafficking,” said Manisha Salve, an activist with another NGO.Speaking to Mumbai Mirror, Commissioner of Police Rakesh Maria said, “I have instructed all police stations to start booking customers visiting brothel houses under Section 370A. We want to send out a strong message not only to those involved in human trafficking, but also to those who abet it by visiting victims of trafficking.”Elaborating on the purpose served by booking customers, Maria said, “Apart from booking traffickers if we can manage to curb the nuisance of customers, then we will be able to control human trafficking.”Joint Commissioner of Police (Law & Order) Deven Bharti said, “Those who are booked won’t be spared, and appropriate legal action will be taken against them.”If a person is found to be visiting a minor trafficked person, he can be sentenced to rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than five years, but which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.In the case of a major trafficked person, the accused can be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than three years, but which may extend to five years, and shall also be liable to a fine.