Dance is an integral part of Indian culture, defining so many moments of celebration and joy. Unfortunately, sometimes its popularity can also create the opportunity for it to mask something much darker. 

A criminal network was using a dance studio as its location of choice to traffic women and teenage girls, many of them far from home. The massive building held 20 different rooms with dance floors, a compound that could easily hide its true nature as customers came and went.

For the women and girls being trafficked there, leaving could only happen with an escort from the criminal ring. They had to wait inside the studio for men to come and buy time with them, abused for the profit of others. 

Law enforcement was tipped off to what was happening. With an operation so massive, they needed extra help in gathering evidence to build a successful case. They contacted The Exodus Road’s investigators and asked for assistance.

Our team was able to assemble multiple kinds of evidence proving that trafficking was taking place inside the dance studio, which was located right off a main highway. (AI Image representative)

Our team was able to assemble multiple kinds of evidence proving that trafficking was taking place inside the dance studio, which was located right off a main highway. Law enforcement acted decisively in response, entering the building to free 38 trafficked women and girls. In the process, they arrested seven traffickers and 35 “customers” there to buy sexual services.

The survivors were scared at first, unsure of what was happening amid the chaos of so many arrests happening simultaneously. But The Exodus Road ensured social workers were present to comfort them, assuring them they weren’t in trouble, that they were finally safe from their exploiters. They’re now receiving aftercare services as they heal and rebuild their lives. 

Meanwhile, the traffickers are in jail, and the entire network has been shut down. Local media covered the case, sending a message to anyone else who is perverting the joy of dance with ulterior motives: there will be consequences.

Our investigators were able to build a case that equipped police to free these women and girls and arrest their traffickers because of monthly donors who give consistently to keep our team operating. Because of those donors, trafficking became dangerous for this criminal ring.

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