Ajmer Rape Case Repeats in Beawar?

A shocking case has emerged from Rajasthan’s Beawar district, bearing similarities to the 1992 Ajmer rape case. According to reports, 4-5 minor girls were allegedly raped and blackmailed by a group of Muslim men. The accused also pressured the victims to introduce their friends to them.

Using objectionable photos and videos, the perpetrators allegedly blackmailed the girls and coerced them into converting to Islam. When the matter came to light, protests erupted outside the Bijainagar police station, with people demanding the arrest of all those involved in the heinous crime.

Five accused have been identified so far, while the police have detained two juveniles. Reports suggest that the accused lured the victims with gifts such as toys and Chinese mobile phones. They allegedly promised to delete explicit photos and videos if the victims introduced them to their friends and even issued death threats to those who refused to comply.

What makes this case even more alarming is its resemblance to the Ajmer rape case of 1992. In that case, more than 100 girls aged 17 to 20 were gang-raped over several months. Some reports suggested the actual number of victims could be around 250.

The Ajmer case involved powerful figures, including Farooq and Nafis Chisti from the influential Khadim family, which manages the Ajmer Dargah. At the time, both were also associated with the Youth Congress. Reports also hinted at the involvement of several political figures in the scandal.

The victims in the Ajmer case were also from affluent families, and some of them were daughters of big leaders. The accused impressed them by showing off their bikes and cars. The perpetrators slowly gained their trust before trapping them in a cycle of blackmail and sexual exploitation.

However, the ordeal of the victims did not end there. The accused started pressuring the victims to introduce them to their friends. As a result, more innocent girls became their prey. On multiple occasions, the victims were gang-raped by them, including many leaders.

Journalist Santosh Gupta initially reported on the case, but his articles failed to create an impact. It was only when he published a blurred image of a victim being assaulted. That created a public outrage and compelled the authorities to take action against the rapists finally.

Eighteen individuals were booked in the Ajmer case. In 1998, eight were sentenced to life imprisonment, but four were later acquitted, while the remaining four had their sentences reduced to 10 years. One of the accused died by suicide, another received a life sentence in 2007 but was acquitted after six years, and one still remains absconding.

In August 2024, a Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) court sentenced six of the accused, including Nafis Chisti, to life imprisonment for their heinous crimes.