Nagpur: In a sweeping anti-trafficking campaign, Nagpur City Police have rescued 86 victims—including 21 minor girls and 65 women—and arrested 59 accused in 38 separate cases under Operation Shakti. Commissioner of Police Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singal on Tuesday felicitated 42 officers and staff who played key roles in the initiative, recognising their exceptional work in dismantling human trafficking networks and commercial sexual exploitation rackets.
Operation Shakti, launched officially on July 27, 2025, was conceptualised by Dr. Singal in October 2024 and operates through a District Action Group (DAG). This multi-agency task force includes the District Legal Services Authority, Women and Child Development Department, Railway Protection Force, Nagpur Railway Police, Nagpur Municipal Corporation, Tourism and Transport Departments, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, Child Welfare Committee, NGOs, and social activists.
The campaign identified 330 hotspots—flats, lodges, spa centres, salons, dark zones, and stretches along highways—installing 22 special recognition cameras and establishing 33 Women Help Desks, including 24x7 centres at Cotton Market and Ganeshpeth bus stands. Extensive awareness drives followed, such as hotel industry workshops attended by 150 business owners, public transport campaigns with auto drivers and NSS volunteers, and outreach at the airport in association with CISF and Prakruti Foundation. The team also partnered with OYO Vice President Gagandeep Gupta for strategic discussions.
Key enforcement actions included a raid at Gondwana Square’s Akaar Building (Copper Salon); rescue of a 17-year-old girl abducted to Rajasthan within 24 hours; raids at Mahalaxmi Kripa Guest House (Hingna), Kanoli Bar, Swag Se Rahul Hotel near Ganeshpeth Bus Stand, Dwell Stay Cocktail Camel Farm House (New Kamptee), Lotus Service Apartments (Beltarodi), and Icon Spa & Salon (Pratap Nagar); and busting a sex racket under Hudkeshwar Police Station. In one striking case, children held captive for three years were freed with the support of District Child Protection Officer Mustak Pathan. Recently, seven underage labourers were rescued from a Government Medical College construction site with assistance from the NGO Gramin Samasya Mukti Trust.
The felicitation ceremony took place on September 16, 2025, at 4 p.m. in Police Bhavan, where Dr. Singal honoured officers including Rahul Shire (Social Security Branch), Gajanan Gulhane (NDPS), Chulpar Shivaji Nanaware, Senior Inspector Mukund Kawade (Beltarodi), Nitin Rajkumar (Ajni), and Harishkumar Borade (Wathoda), among others. Certificates of appreciation and saplings were presented by Dr. Singal, Additional CP Vasant Pardeshi, Joint CP Naveen Chandra Reddy, and DCPs Mehak Swami (Operation Shakti Nodal Officer) and Rashmita Rao.
Commending the team, Dr. Singal reaffirmed that Operation Shakti will continue with intensified action to eradicate human trafficking and ensure the rescue of more victims across Nagpur and beyond.
