17 bar girls escape from hostel; 8 held

Seventeen bar girls, who had been rescued from various dance bars, escaped from a women's hostel here, police said today.

The girls, hailing from different parts of the country, had been lodged at the Nashik's 'Shaskiya Vatsalya Vasati Griha'(government women's hostel) located on Gangapur road.

Last night, 17 girls gave the hostel's security guard a slip by throwing chilly powder in his eyes, police said.

The hostel authorities lodged a complaint with Sarkarwada police.

Five girls were caught last night and three were held today, police said, adding that a search has been launched for the others who fled from the hostel.