Rajasthan: Bhim Army Chief takes umbrage over gang rape of a minor Dalit girl in Sriganganagar, demands arrest of absconding accused within 24 hours
So far, 14 to 18 accused have been arrested, including the hotel owner, manager, staff, and rickshaw driver. The search for the remaining absconding accused is ongoing.
Sriganganagar – The brutal gang rape of a 13-year-old Dalit girl in the district has sparked outrage across Rajasthan. The incident began around June 18th when the girl disappeared from her home.
According to the police investigation, an e-rickshaw driver kidnapped her and sold her to a hotel owner for a small sum of money. The girl was then held hostage for five days in various hotels in the city, including Joy Inn, Khunger, and Sapphire, where she was repeatedly gang-raped by 32 named accused. The victim’s statement states that sometimes three or four people, sometimes more, committed the crime against her, and if she screamed in pain, she was given alcohol.
Kailash Dan, the investigating officer and Additional Superintendent of Police (SP) in this case, states that the girl had an Instagram friend, whom she met on June 18th in Vijaynagar, where she was raped by that friend.
According to reports, the girl then traveled from Vijaynagar to Sri Ganganagar by bus at night and took a rickshaw. When the girl didn’t return home, her mother searched for her in various locations and inquired with relatives. However, when she still hadn’t returned home by June 22nd, she went to the police station.
The police have intensified the investigation based on CCTV footage and DVR recordings. So far, 14 to 18 accused have been arrested, including hotel owners, managers, staff, and rickshaw drivers. The search for the remaining absconding accused is ongoing. In response to public outrage, the administration bulldozed these hotels late on July 1st, demolishing the illegal constructions. An FIR has been registered in the case under sections of the POCSO Act, rape, kidnapping, and human trafficking. The police say that all the culprits will be punished severely once the investigation is complete.
The girl was held hostage for five days in various hotels in the city, where she was repeatedly gang-raped by 32 named accused.
Bhim Army Chief and Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad reacted sharply to the incident. He said, “The incident of the 13-year-old Dalit girl being held hostage and gang-raped by 32 people in Sriganganagar, Rajasthan, is extremely horrific and a shame on humanity. According to the victim, she was sometimes raped by three to four, and sometimes more, men. Whenever she felt pain from the repeated assaults, she was forced to drink alcohol. This crime crosses all limits of brutality. What is even more shameful is that even 15 days after the incident came to light, all the accused have not been arrested. This raises serious questions about the government’s law and order.” Chandrashekhar demanded that Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma and the Rajasthan government arrest all remaining absconding rapists within 24 hours, have the case heard in a fast-track court, ensure the harshest punishment if convicted, and provide immediate security, justice, and adequate financial compensation to the victim’s Dalit family. He also appealed to lawyers not to represent such rapists.
This case highlights the challenges of child trafficking, exploitation in hotel networks, and the protection of minors. The victim is undergoing medical treatment and counseling. Several viral videos on social media are being falsely linked to this case, but are actually from a separate incident in Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh. Local protests are taking place, and demands for justice have intensified. The police and administration claim they are taking the matter seriously and further action is underway.
Geetha Sunil Pillai
Courtesy: Hindi News
