6 women freed from a hotel in India, 4 traffickers arrested

The women had come to India from Bangladesh, drawn by hope for better futures. Instead, they found themselves trapped by powerful traffickers who kept them locked in a hotel, selling them to customers for sex. They couldn’t even step outside the hotel unless they were accompanied by one of the men who was abusing them.

Police partners were suspicious of the activity they saw happening around the hotel. They reached out to The Exodus Road’s India team: We think some women are trapped here. Can you help us find out the truth about what’s happening?

Police partners were suspicious of the activity they saw happening around the hotel. They reached out to The Exodus Road’s India team. (Image representative)

Immediately, our investigators mobilized. 

They collected all of the evidence they needed to prove that women from Bangladesh were being held against their will and trafficked. A local festival slowed down law enforcement’s ability to act, but our team was patient. When the time came, they moved in on the hotel, freeing all six women and arresting four traffickers. The entire operation was shut down, the perpetrators jailed.

When law enforcement and The Exodus Road’s advocates arrived, the women burst into tears. They didn’t understand what was happening — if they were safe, or if this was just another group of people who would harm them. But social workers quickly explained their rights, guiding them to safe houses where they will receive aftercare to help them heal.

The finality of this trafficking operation’s closure is proof of the impact of effective collaboration. Because of the trust between law enforcement and our advocates, six women are free to hope again.