In a shocking incident that has sparked widespread outrage, a 12-year-old Hindu girl was gang-raped and impregnated by Moid Khan, a prominent figure in the Samajwadi Party circle of Ayodhya. He is also considered a close aide to the newly elected Member of Parliament from the Faizabad area, Awadhesh Prasad.
According to reports, Khan, who owns a bakery, along with his servant Raju, not only raped the young girl but also filmed the heinous act. The duo then proceeded to blackmail and threaten the minor, which led to her becoming pregnant and ultimately bringing the case to light.
The girl’s family and activists have accused the police of shielding Khan due to his political connections with Prasad.
Adding to the outrage, when a reporter asked Prasad for his comments on the matter, he refused to respond, further fueling the public’s anger.
Notably, the minor girl belongs to the Nishad caste, prompting members of the Nishad party to lead protests demanding justice for the victim.
Minor become pregnant
Both the accused and the victim are residents of the Bhadarsa area of Ayodhya. The incident, which occurred months back, came to light when it was revealed that the girl was two months pregnant.
Upon questioning by her mother, the girl disclosed that she had been raped by Moid Khan. The assault took place at Khan’s shop, where it was filmed by his servant, Raju.
The girl’s mother attempted to report the incident to the local police at the Bhadarsa police chowki on July 27. However, she was turned away, raising concerns about the police’s response to the case.
On July 29, the Nishad party organised a massive protest outside the police chowki, demanding justice for the victim. During the protest, it was revealed that the chowki was constructed on Moid’s property, further highlighting the alleged misuse of power by the accused.
In response to the protests and public outrage, the police relocated the chowki to another location and registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Moid.
What says the FIR?
An FIR (number: 262/2024) was registered at the Purakalandar police station in the Ayodhya district on July 29, based on a complaint filed by the mother of 12-year-old victim.
According to the FIR, the girl’s mother, who is a widow, informed the police that approximately two and a half months ago, her daughter went to work in an agricultural field. Raju, a 20-year-old man employed by Khan at his bakery, approached the girl and told her that Khan wanted to offer her some work. When the girl went to meet Khan, he grabbed her, taped her mouth shut, and proceeded to rape her while Raju recorded the assault on Khan’s instructions.
The girl, out of fear and shame, did not disclose the abuse to her mother. However, when she began experiencing severe stomach pain and was subsequently taken to a doctor, her pregnancy was discovered. This shocking revelation forced her mother to report the matter to the police.
The FIR has been registered against Khan and Raju under sections of gangrape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
Police action in the case
As of August 1, the accused, Moid Khan, has been arrested and sent to judicial custody. The duo, Moid Khan and Raju, have been booked under sections 376DA (Gang rape), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code, along with sections 5(m) and 6 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012.
The victim’s family has accused the authorities of pressuring them to withdraw the case after registering the complaint. The police registered the FIR 30 hours after the complaint was made, further raising concerns about the response to the case.
What did Awadhesh Prasad say?
When the media approached Awadhesh Prasad, the newly elected MP from the Faizabad constituency, he managed to evade all the questions outside the Parliament House. When asked about the case, Prasad responded evasively, stating, “I am not able to say, I am not able to utter any words regarding the matter. I am not aware of the facts of the case.”
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognizance of the case and issued a notice to the Ayodhya police chief requesting an action taken report (ATR).
NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo posted on X (translated from Hindi), “In Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, there are reports that say a minor girl was raped by a man named Moeed Khan, who is said to be a local leader of the Samajwadi Party. Taking cognizance of this, a notice is being issued to the administration for the arrest of the accused and to provide rehabilitation, treatment, and assistance to the victim.”
Just as Awadhesh Prasad, the Samajwadi Party chief, Akhilesh Yadav who called him the “Raja of Ayodhya,” has remained silent on the matter.
What does CM Yogi say?
The Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh criticised the Samajwadi Party for not taking action against Moid Khan, stating, “He is your (SP) active member. He is seen around your MP. The girl belongs to the Extreme Backward Class (EBC), yet you are taking the matter lightly.”
Referring to another case from Hardoi, where an advocate was murdered, Adityanath pointed out that the accused, Birendra Yadav, is a former district president of the SP and has 28 cases against him since 1989, including charges under the Goonda Act.
“Then you say I am shooting people. Should I garland them?” CM Yogi remarked. He questioned the SP’s alliance with Congress, the party responsible for strangling democracy during the Emergency.
CM declared, “Those who spread anarchy in the state, it’s my responsibility to make them pay. If I wanted to gain fame, I would have gained that at my math but I am here to work for the people.”
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