The Central District Police conducted simultaneous raids at two spa establishments in the Nabi Karim and Paharganj areas of Delhi, rescuing 19 women and arresting 10 people for their alleged involvement in illegal activities, police said on Saturday.

The raids were conducted as part of a crackdown on alleged illegal activities operating under the guise of spa services. Two FIRs have been registered under Sections 3, 4, and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, and further investigation is underway.

In the first operation, Nabi Karim police acted on specific information about an alleged sex racket operating at Hollywood Spa, located on the second and third floors of property number 8709-10 on Desh Bandhu Gupta Road.

According to police, on October 16, a secret informer approached Sub-Inspector Neeraj Rathi and provided information about the alleged racket. The information was shared with the station house officer (SHO), who constituted a team to verify the input and take legal action.

A police personnel was deployed as a decoy customer to verify the information. After the alleged illegal activity was confirmed, the team raided the premises, rescued 14 women and arrested nine accused.

The arrested persons were identified as Preeti Iman Ali, 39, the spa owner; Rizwan Ali, 38, the manager; Asif, 35; Shajeb, 31; Mohd. Umar, 39; Sameer, 25; Shahrukh, 35; Gulrej alias Danish, 28; and Shiva, 25. They are residents of Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Karnataka.

An FIR (No. 473/26), dated October 16, was registered at Nabi Karim police station under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

In a separate operation, Paharganj police raided New Latest Unisex Salon and Spa at property number 3738 on Desh Bandhu Gupta Road. During the raid, five women were rescued, and one accused was arrested.

The accused was identified as Shakeel Ahmed, 46, a native of Rampur, Uttar Pradesh, who was residing at the spa premises in Delhi.

An FIR (No. 452/2026), dated October 17, was registered at Paharganj police station under Sections 3, 4 and 5 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act.

Police teams from both stations carried out the operations under the supervision of their respective SHOs, with the Nabi Karim operation also supervised by the ACP, Paharganj.

Paris, Oct 17: A leading international human rights organisation raised alarm over escalating human rights abuses in Bangladesh during a high-level bilateral meeting at the European Commission office in Brussels.

According to Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), a five-member delegation led by its founder Shahanur Islam met Fausto Matos, a Cabinet Member in the office of European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen.

During the meeting, the delegation drew attention to the deteriorating human rights situation in Bangladesh since August 2024, particularly the ban on the Awami League, death sentences against its leadership, widespread political persecution, arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, custodial deaths, torture, mob violence and restrictions on democratic freedoms.

They also highlighted persecution of journalists and lawyers, and increasing threats against vulnerable and marginalised communities.

The delegation submitted a comprehensive human rights briefing note titled “Human Rights Concerns in Bangladesh Since the Change of Government in August 2024,” documenting reported violations between August 2024 and October 2026 and calling for stronger European Union engagement.

The briefing urged the EU to press for the lifting of the ban on the Awami League, an end to political persecution and concrete measures to protect fundamental freedoms. It also called on the EU to press Bangladeshi authorities for accountability and uphold human rights, democracy and the rule of law in Bangladesh.

The delegation also presented six thematic reports published by JMBF, highlighting alleged extrajudicial killings and custodial deaths under the former Muhammad Yunus-led interim government, threats to the independence of the legal profession, and the state of LGBTQI+ rights.

The thematic reports also documented violence against garment workers, systematic intimidation of legal professionals, and what the JMBF described as a government-driven media blackout targeting its human rights reporting in Bangladesh.

JMBF also expressed serious concerns over 23 death sentences imposed by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunals against 22 distinct individuals, including former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal, and several other Awami League leaders and affiliated individuals, in cases relating to the July–August 2024 uprising.

JMBP founder Shahanur Islam questioned the “independence and impartiality of the tribunals, particularly the imposition of death sentences following trials conducted in absentia, allegations of politically motivated prosecutions, and inadequate safeguards to ensure compliance with internationally recognised standards of due process and fair trial.”

The delegation warned that “politically motivated arrests, intimidation and prolonged detention of lawyers threaten the independence of the legal profession, undermine access to justice and weaken the rule of law.”

They also flagged a surge in attacks on journalists, human rights defenders, teachers, students and workers, as well as sexual violence against children, violence against women and girls, and persecution of religious and ethnic minorities, LGBTQI+ individuals across Bangladesh.

JMBF urged the EU to integrate measurable human rights commitments into its diplomatic, trade and development engagement with Bangladesh.

Kota, Oct 17: At least eight people were killed, and 17 others were seriously injured after a minibus overturned and fell into a ditch on the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway in Rajasthan’s Kota early on Saturday morning, officials said.

According to the officials, the bus was carrying over 25 passengers from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam. The incident occurred at around 6:30 a.m. in the Simliya Police Station area when the bus fell from a height of approximately 15 feet.

Upon receiving the information, the police, along with rescue officials, reached the spot. A crane was used to rescue the injured, officials said.

Subsequently, the injured were taken to MBS Hospital and New Medical College.

Families of those deceased and injured are being informed, according to the police.

Preliminary reports suggest the driver may have dozed off.

District Collector Piyush Samaria and IG Harendra Mahawar have also reached MBS Hospital.

DC Piyush Samaria, speaking to reporters, said, “So far, there are still eight ‘brought dead’ cases. All other critical patients have been shifted to the ICU, and their treatment is ongoing. The total number of casualties reported so far is eight.”

He said that the people were travelling to the Khatu Shyam Temple when the mishap took place.

Speaking about the incident, ASP Ram Kalyan Meena said, “Some passengers were travelling from Bhopal to Khatu Shyam Ji in a minibus. In Kota, within the Simliya Police Station area, the driver apparently dozed off while driving on the eight-lane expressway, causing the bus to fall into a culvert. Around eight people have died, while approximately 15 to 17 others are undergoing treatment at the Medical College and MBS Hospital.”

Officials said that an investigation is underway.