96 women illegally engaged to dance in bars rescued

A total of 96 women who were engaged illegally to perform dances in 11 bars in the state capital were rescued, the police said on Saturday. The bars did not have permission to engage women for dancing, police said.

"The women are from West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Mumbai, Punjab, Haryana and Odisha. They were released after verification of their identities," said Bhubaneswar Deputy Commissioner of Police Anup Kumar Sahu said. Separate police teams raided 11 bars in Laxmi Sagar and Cuttack Road areas on Friday night and rescued the women.

Excise Superintendent Sudarshan Nayak, however, said the bars may conduct dance programmes on special occasions, but with due permission..