The shocking case of blackmail, sexual Abuse, and alleged forced religious conversion of minor girls in Bijaynagar town of Beawar district has triggered nationwide outrage and massive protests across Rajasthan. Eight adult suspects have been arrested, and three minors detained in connection with the case, as protests continue to escalate in Beawar, Bhilwara, and Ajmer districts.
The case came to light on February 16, when five minor schoolgirls, all aged between 14 and 16, approached the police along with their families, revealing shocking details of their months-long sexual abuse and rape. The accused, who worked as painters, welders, tempo drivers, laborers, and mechanics, had only studied up to the fourth or fifth grade.
They allegedly targeted schoolgirls, luring them to local cafes, where they took inappropriate photographs and used them for blackmail. Under threats, the minors were coerced into bringing more girls into the trap, deepening the web of abuse.
Even more horrifying, the accused allegedly forced the victims to wear burqas, recite religious verses, and observe fasts, attempting to indoctrinate them through forced conversion. The victims’ medical examinations were conducted on February 17, and their statements were recorded before a magistrate on February 18.
On February 27, police arrested 45-year-old former independent councillor Abdul Hakim Qureshi, who is accused of aiding the perpetrators and facilitating their crimes. The prime accused, including Sohail Masuri, Sohail, Lukman alias Shoeb (20), Sohail Mansuri (19), Arman (18), and Rihan Mohammad (20), were taken into custody. Shravan, a 23-year-old café owner who provided a safe haven for these activities, was also arrested under POCSO charges. Police are currently hunting for the owner of a pizza and burger shop, who is suspected of playing a similar role.
On March 4, a POCSO court in Ajmer sent four of the key accused to judicial custody while interrogations continue for the remaining suspects. The police have registered three separate FIRs and are probing the case under stringent sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including sections 75(2), 78(2), 353(1)G, and 64(1).
The case has triggered an unprecedented wave of protests across Rajasthan. The Jain community, along with various Hindu organisations, staged massive demonstrations in multiple towns. On March 4, thousands of protestors gathered at Peepali intersection in Bijaynagar, demanding strict punishment for the accused. Businesses in Jaliya Dvitiya, Masuda, and Ramgarh shut down in protest.
In Bhilwara, the Indian Sadhu Society Rajasthan, led by its president Hansaram, organised a large-scale foot march and submitted a memorandum to the district collector, urging immediate action. Hindu organisations and the saint community also held a rally at Bhilwara district headquarters, condemning the crimes and calling for swift justice.
In response to the rising anger, the Bijaynagar municipal body issued 11 notices for encroachments linked to the accused’s families, including a local mosque, a graveyard, and multiple food establishments. Authorities are under immense pressure to take further action as public fury continues to rise.
The growing resentment against the accused reached a boiling point on March 5, when Abdul Hakim Qureshi was brought before the special POCSO court in Ajmer. As soon as he stepped out of the courtroom, a group of enraged lawyers attacked him, slapping, kicking, and punching him. Some lawyers even climbed tables and chairs to land blows, while police officers struggled to control the situation. Chaos erupted as some policemen lost their footing and stumbled, eventually managing to extract Qureshi and rush him to safety.
This gruesome case only came to light due to a minor financial discrepancy. A father of one of the victims noticed Rs 2,000 missing from his wallet and later discovered a suspicious mobile phone with his daughter. This seemingly insignificant discovery led to the unraveling of a criminal syndicate exploiting young girls under the guise of blackmail and religious conversion.
Since then, Bijaynagar and its surrounding regions have witnessed heightened communal tensions, market shutdowns, and continuous protests. The gravity of the crime and the involvement of multiple perpetrators have sent shockwaves across the nation, with citizens demanding nothing less than the harshest punishment.
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