"Mashis (brothel owners/older sex workers) use friendship, sympathy, also veiled threats to convince the women that it is now in their best interest to conform and begin working.
"[8] The Crime Branch of Delhi Police has recovered one girl from Rabindra Sarani, Sonagachi who was missing along with eight other female inmates from Sanskar Ashram in Dilshad Garden since December 2, 2018.
[12] A farcical short-drama book named Beshyaleela ( বেশ্যালীলা ) was printed in the middle of the year 1880 written by an anonymous writer ( অজ্ঞাতনামা ).
From the first half of the 19th century, centering on Sonagachhi, a huge organised prostitution area surrounding Cornwallis Street on the east, and Chitpur on the west were formed.
From the middle of the 19th century, the British colonial administration, Christian Missionaries, and native English-knowing educated 'Victorian' Indian gentlemen started campaign against prostitutes.
The adjacent Tiretta Bazar area is mainly a loading – unloading point with offices or godowns of a large number of transport companies.
Located around the banks of the Adi Ganga canal, an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 prostitutes live and work there.
[17] Kolkata has emerged as a hub for the trafficking of girls, who often arrive from Nepal, Bangladesh, Assam and Burma.
[18] Many of the women in Sonnagachi were forcedly taken away from their homes; some were tricked and others sold into prostitution by their friends and families; most of them are illiterate.
[15] NGO Apne Aap has a support centre in the area and has made two films about life in Kidderpore's red-light district: Kali and Shaadi Ka Shart Shauchalaya.
[23] Sonagachi is located in North-Kolkata near the intersection of Chittaranjan Avenue Sova Bazar and Beadon Street, just north of the Marble Palace.
According to class-division, the red-light areas of Kolkata are also divided into four different classes: poor-class, lower-class, middle-class, and rich-class.
[24] However, these efforts are hindered by human trafficking: refusal of clients to wear condom, and women controlled by third parties are forced to oblige.
"[25] Tollygunge is a small red-light district located near Prince Anwar Shah Road.
[16] Also a very small level high class escort service operates here, mostly college student or housewives or executives.
[34] The documentary entitled Tales of The Night Fairies by Prof. Shohini Ghosh and Dr. Sabeena Ghadioke from Asia's leading Media institute AJK, Mass Communication Research Centre, is about the Sonagachi area.
The Malayalam Film Calcutta News depicts the story of women being trafficked and forced to become sex worker in Sonagachi.