Charges filed against 13 in alleged targeting of Hindu girls in Rajasthan

AJMER: Bijaynagar police in Beawar district Thursday submitted an 895-page chargesheet to a Pocso court here against 13 individuals, including five minors, accused of orchestrating a gang operation targeting minor Hindu girls. The charges include allegations of forceful religious conversion, blackmail, coercion for physical relations and incitement of communal hatred.
The chargesheet, which includes 44 pages detailing the charges against each accused, was presented by special public prosecutor Roopendra Parihar. The main accused identified are Afraj alias Jibrahil (18), Rehan alias Riyan (20), Amaan (22), Javed Ali (20), Lukman alias Shoeb (20), Sohail Mansuri (19), Ashique Mohammad (21) and Karim Khan (20).
The case came to light on Feb 15 after a parent reported suspicious activities following the discovery of a small Chinese mobile phone belonging to her minor daughter. As per the chargesheet, police investigation revealed that a gang of 10 to 15 individuals was targeting minor Hindu girls, coercing them into meetings in secluded places and using gifts to manipulate them.
The chargesheet outlines that the accused conspired to convert Hindu girls to Islam, forcing them to observe religious practices such as fasting, praying, adopting Muslim cultural attire and inciting hatred for Hindu religion. The police noted that the gang's intent was to incite hatred between Hindu and Muslim communities, aiming to create a divide.
The accused face charges under various BNS sections, including sexual harassment and stalking, as well as sections of the POCSO Act. However, the police opted not to file charges related to rape or child pornography. Families of the survivors had claimed that the minors were subjected to gang rape and blackmail through video recordings.
The Pocso court has scheduled a hearing for April 21 to frame charges against the accused. Special public prosecutor Parihar said, "The chargesheet has now been submitted to the court, which will frame charges against the accused. At present, all accused are in judicial custody."