Six Women Booked Over Alleged Soliciting And Obscene Gestures Near Ratanpol in Ahmedabad

Routine street patrols on Ahmedabad's sprawling Relief Road turned into a law enforcement action on Saturday afternoon when local police detained six women near Ratanpol Gate for allegedly soliciting male pedestrians using explicit gestures.

Officers from the Kalupur police station intercepted the group opposite the Central Bank branch around 3:30 pm. According to police records, constable Bhagwatiben Bhikhabhai was conducting routine monitoring alongside a team when they noticed the women actively calling out to passers-by through hand gestures and physical signals.

What Happened on Relief Road

The patrolling team moved in after observing the group repeatedly attempting to draw the attention of men walking down the busy commercial stretch. Officers detained all six individuals on the spot to verify their credentials and record their details.

Police identified the women as Artiben Parmar (50), Anguriben Yadav (40), Jaymala Khatik (30), Nayanaben Kumawat (38), Manjulaben Parmar (60), and Bhumiben Panchal (42). They reside across various neighbourhoods in Ahmedabad, including Odhav, Maninagar, Naroda, Ramol, and Vastral.

Legal Action and Public Order Charges

Kalupur police station formally registered a case against the six individuals under provisions of the Gujarat Police Act covering obscene conduct in public spaces.

Investigators confirmed that while no individual pedestrian submitted a direct harassment complaint, the women were booked for creating a public nuisance and actively attempting to solicit passers-by on a major thoroughfare.

Background Context and Next Steps

Relief Road remains one of the old city's most congested retail corridors, drawing heavy daily footfalls near historic trade hubs like Ratanpol. Local law enforcement has maintained tighter surveillance across key market stretches to prevent public disturbance and regulate street traffic.

Following their initial detention, officers recorded the statements of the six women and initiated formal legal proceedings. Kalupur police officials said further inquiry is underway to determine the circumstances behind their presence on the stretch and whether any broader network operating in the precinct was involved.