Many nightclubs stop keeping dancers locked up in flats

Dubai: Many Asian dance clubs have stopped keeping their dancers locked in flats after Pakistani dancer Aaina Malek's death in a fire which broke out in a locked flat.

"We have hired services of a private security company instead of locking the girls in the house," said the manager of a club in Deira. He said that they kept girls in a villa instead of a flat.

"There is a watchman and two private security guards to watch the girls," he said.

Aaina died in a flat blaze on July 30 as she could not escape because she was locked inside along with another girl Lucky.

Lucky was rescued after neighbours broke the door open but Aaina perished.

Warning

A manager of a leading Indian dance club in Bur Dubai said they have also stopped keeping the girls locked. "We have at least two female caretakers in the flat where around 15 girls stay. Both the caretakers have flat keys in case they need to go out in emergencies," he said.

However, Gulf News has learnt that many dance clubs are still keeping the girls locked despite a police warning. Police earlier said keeping people locked is a criminal offence and legal action can be taken against them.

An owner of a dance club in Bur Dubai said the girls are taken to a flat or a villa after they finish their performances at 3am. "Although, now senior staff members living with them have keys of flat, they are kept locked and not allowed to go out," he said.

He said that Aaina's case, which was highlighted in Gulf News, has shaken up the industry and club managers are scared now.

"Almost all of them have started taking precautionary measures for the safety of their dancers. Keeping security guards or caretakers is not a bad option," he added.

He said the clubs cannot leave them unlocked or unguarded because there have been cases when these girls have 'run away' with their rich friends.

The girls mainly come from India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh to work as dancers from 9pm to 3am in Asian nightclubs.