On August 11, 2021, around midday, barricades came up in the Ganga-Jamuna red light area of Nagpur city, instantly affecting 1,200-1,500 sex workers residing and working there. No announcement was made, nor was there any hint that such a dire restriction of mobility was intended. On August 13, a police order of the previous day by the Lakadganj Police Station, was pasted in the locality, invoking Section 144 Cr Pc prohibiting the assembly of four or more persons, from August 11 to September 9, 2021. No valid reason was given for invoking these powers based on alleged complaints from citizens about “illegal sex trade”. Neither was there any evidence that “ordinary citizens” are facing any insecurity/risks while traversing this area or that public peace was being threatened. The police order put sex workers with their children and families in an illegal prison. Munni from the Ganga Jamuna area had to flee the area because she needed to work to provide for her family. She came to Pune to find work in the Budhwar Peth area but came up against COVID-19 restrictions. Fortunately, she got support from activists of the National Network of Sex Workers (NNSW).