A deeply disturbing case of sexual violence against a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh, has sent shockwaves across the nation. The victim, a 14-year-old Dalit girl, was abducted by four men – Salman, Zubair, Rashid, and Arif – while she was on her way to a local tailor’s shop in early January 2025. She was taken in a vehicle, rendered unconscious with drugs, and held captive for several days. After enduring the abuse for two months, the victim managed to escape on March 2 and reached her aunt’s house. Her family immediately lodged a police complaint, after which a case was registered at the Bhagatpur police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
Station House Officer (SHO) Bhagatpur police station Sanjay Kumar Panchal said that according to a complaint lodged by her family members, during the girl’s captivity “the accused allegedly burned an ‘Om’ tattoo on her hand with acid, forcibly fed her meat, and subjected her to further torture”.
थाना भगतपुर क्षेत्रान्तर्गत नाबालिग से दुष्कर्म किये जाने की घटना में थाना भगतपुर पर सुसंगत धाराओं में अभियोग पंजीकृत है एक आपोरी को गिरफ्तार किया जा चुका है। विवेचनात्मक कार्यवाही प्रचिलत है उक्त संबंध में #SP_RA @moradabadpolice की बाईटः- pic.twitter.com/Ldabuzisoo
— MORADABAD POLICE (@moradabadpolice) March 5, 2025
Superintendent of Police (Rural) Kunwar Akash Singh confirmed the incident, stating that one of the accused, Salman, was arrested on Tuesday and sent to jail. Efforts are underway to track down the remaining suspects. Meanwhile, the girl’s family has alleged that they are being threatened and pressured to withdraw the case.
The Alarming Allegations
However, the statements made by the victim in her FIR add a deeper layer of concern to this case. According to the victim, the perpetrators not only threatened to kill her but also stated that they were being paid large sums of money for their role in “Islamic Jihad.” The victim’s account also included shocking claims that many Hindu girls had been converted to Islam in similar ways, further underlining the potentially dangerous ideological motive behind the crimes.
These claims suggest that the crime was not only a brutal act of sexual violence but also part of a larger pattern of religious radicalisation and forced conversions, allegedly funded by an extremist agenda.
No condemnation by leaders like Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav
Even more troubling than the heinous crime itself is the apparent silence of some key political leaders on this issue. Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the Indian National Congress, has not visited the victim’s family in Moradabad, despite the gravity of the case. Critics have pointed out that the accused in this case are Muslim men, and it is speculated that Gandhi’s reluctance to engage with the Dalit family stems from political calculations, where speaking out could alienate certain vote banks.
Similarly, Akhilesh Yadav, leader of the Samajwadi Party, has remained silent on the issue, even though he has been vocal on other matters. His silence on this disturbing case raises questions about the political motives at play. The fact that such influential political figures are hesitant to speak up is deeply concerning, as it suggests that certain incidents are being ignored due to political expediency.
The silence of key political leaders on this case is not just a matter of negligence—it is a disservice to the victim and to society as a whole. The country must stand united against such brutalities, irrespective of the identity of the perpetrators. This is a case that demands justice not only for the victim but also for the millions of other vulnerable women and children who face exploitation, especially from marginalised communities.
