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The Delhi Police Crime Branch has rescued a 35-year-old woman who was allegedly trafficked and forced into prostitution at the GB Road red-light area, an official said on Sunday.

 

The "manager" of the brothel was arrested at the scene, he added.

 

According to police, the woman, a native of West Bengal, was lured to Delhi around three months ago with the promise of a job, but was instead sold into the illegal trade.

 

She lost contact with her family upon arriving in Delhi, but managed to contact her brother about ten days ago and inform him of her situation, a senior police officer said.

 

Her brother then approached the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) with the help of a non-governmental organisation (NGO), he said.

 

"Based on a tip-off, a police team launched a rescue operation and conducted a raid on 5 April. She was rescued from a brothel at GB Road, and its manager was arrested at the scene," the officer said.

 

Preliminary investigation revealed that the woman, who had studied up to Class 5 and comes from an impoverished background, had been divorced a year ago.

 

Prior to being trafficked, she worked as a domestic help. A woman had reportedly promised her employment in Delhi, only to sell her into the sex trade, he added.

 

Legal proceedings have been initiated based on her statement, and further investigation is underway, the officer confirmed.

 

Meanwhile, the Delhi Police have arrested a 33-year-old man wanted in a murder case after a two-month manhunt, another official said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Ankur, was apprehended from Loni in Ghaziabad on 4 April, he said.

 

Ankur, a resident of Padam Nagar in Sarai Rohilla, had been evading arrest since January in connection with the fatal stabbing of a neighbour over a financial dispute.

 

Ankur and his brothers – Rohan and Ankit – allegedly attacked their neighbour, Lakhan, during the night of 25–26 January after a heated argument over a loan of ₹50,000, police said.

 

Lakhan later succumbed to his injuries in hospital, they added.

 

Rohan was arrested earlier, while Ankur and Ankit had remained absconding. A police team later traced Ankur to Ghaziabad.

 

The officer stated that Ankur confessed to the crime during interrogation. Ankur, who had dropped out of school, worked as a rickshaw puller. Police are also investigating his possible involvement in other offences.