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The police rescued nine girls and arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in flesh trade during a raid at a hotel here. Acting on a tip-off, the police raided 'Hotel Rahul' as a part of the ongoing drive against prostitution in the city. India 's business and entertainment capital Mumbai is a popular source, transit and destination station for traffic in women and girls. According to media reports, more than a hundred girls have been rescued in the last two-months from bars, saloons and massage centres, which were functioning as prostitution dens. Speaking to mediapersons, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) of Mumbai Social Service branch, Vasant Dhoble, confirmed that nine girls had been rescued from the bar. "The Mumbai Police Social Service branch had received information that the girls who have been employed as waitresses in this hotel are also supplied as sex workers. To confirm our lead, we had sent a bogus customer to this hotel. We have found nine girls here who were supplied as prostitutes at a price range of Rs. 1000 rupees to Rs.5000. These girls were supplied through the cashier and the stewards at this hotel," Dhoble said. He added that a case under Prevention of Immoral Trafficking Act (PITA) was registered against the five hotel officials and workers arrested in the raid. " The cashier and one of the partners of this hotel are brothers (who have been arrested). We have also arrested one more person and two stewards of this hotel under the provisions of the PITA. The local police would now initiate future course of action against the arrested persons," Dhoble informed.

Mumbai police rescues nine girls in bar raid