KATHMANDU: Tears roll down her cheeks when 52-year-old Maya Lama (name changed), a worker at the vegetable market in Kalimati, recounts how Balaju police arrested her daughter Sargam Lama (name changed) and put her behind bars alleging that

she was involved in prostitution.

Maya says the cops have labelled her as a ‘professional sex worker’. “Police have put Sargam behind bars without having substantial evidence to prove she is a professional sex worker,” claims Maya Lama.

Balaju police arrested Sargam from Ranibari Restaurant in Hattiban on March 17. She is charged with involvement in flesh trade. Police also detained some of her friends on the same day from Ranibari.

Sargam says she had shown police the owner of the restaurant but they ignored him and arrested the girls. Balaju police have shifted Lama and her friends to the Metropolitan Police Range, Kathmandu.

Police have filed a case against them under the Public Offense Act and will present them before the Chief District Officer today.

Maya says her daughter has fallen prey of police highhandedness. “Those who are behind such filthy business are never arrested but girls like my daughter who are illiterate and ignorant are held by the police,” said Maya.