Mind yourself, sex workers tell police

A group of sex workers and volunteers of various associations on Friday staged protest at Town Hall, demanding action against policemen who allegedly assaulted and raped sex workers recently.

They staged protest for two hours, raising slogans, demanding protection of sex workers from the police. They demanded that the government take steps to save sex workers from police’s harassment, which, they alleged, is rampant in the city.

“We demand that the police department take stringent action against the policemen who dragged and raped sex workers. We expect police to protect sex workers, but they are not only harassing them, but also indulging in gang-rape,’’ said Veena, a social activist.

According to Veena, sex workers live in constant fear of police brutality and find it difficult to even enter certain areas. “These women live and work in these areas and this is a direct infringement of the right to freedom of movement of the sex workers,” she said.

It is alleged that a sex worker was dragged by two policemen into a Hoysala van near Majestic on November 29 and gang-raped repeatedly. Allegedly, the woman was beaten up, and when she tried to escape, she was dragged back by her hair and threatened with dire consequences. The protesters alleged that another sex worker was trafficked by a policeman of Upparpet police station. They alleged that the policemen repeatedly raped her and forced her to have sex with other men.

Upparpet police inspector Prakash Reddy rubbished all the allegations.