- विज्ञापन -
Jaipur: Ajmer observed a complete shutdown on Saturday in protest against the Bijaynagar rape and blackmail case, following a call for a bandh by the Sarva Hindu Samaj community.
Members of various Hindu organizations took to the streets, encouraging shopkeepers to close their businesses. Some supporters of the bandh even deflated vehicle tires on the roads, while a few shops in Dargah Bazaar remained open despite pleas for them to shut down. However, emergency services continued to function normally.
Essential services such as schools, colleges, petrol pumps, gas agencies, and hospitals operated without disruption. Members of the Sarva Hindu Samaj planned to gather at Gandhi Bhawan before marching to the Collectorate to submit a memorandum addressed to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, demanding strict action against the accused and calling for a CBI investigation into the case involving the rape and blackmail of minors.
Over 130 organizations have backed the bandh. The incident came to light when a minor reported it to the Bijaynagar police station on February 15, followed by another minor and the father of three girls. The allegations claim that minor girls attending private schools were raped, blackmailed with explicit photos and videos, and pressured into religious conversion, including reciting the Kalma and observing fasts.
The police have registered a case under the POCSO Act and related sections and have commenced an investigation. So far, 13 individuals have been arrested, including three minors. Among those being questioned are former councilor Hakim Qureshi and cafe owner Sanwar Mal, with Qureshi scheduled to appear in court on March 2. Additionally, the police have obtained a production warrant for four other suspects—Sohail Mansuri, Luqman, Aashiq, and Karim—who are currently in custody. The investigation is ongoing, with statements from those detained being cross-examined.
