After allegations of sexual assault and forced conversions in Rajasthan town, demolition notices issued to suspects

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Days after seven men were arrested over allegations of sexual assault, blackmail, and forced religious conversions of a group of schoolgirls in Bijaynagar town of Rajasthan’s Beawar district, the local municipality has sent notices to the families of the suspects for alleged encroachments, it is learnt.

The notices for alleged encroachments come at a time when the allegations, which surfaced on February 18, have led to communal tensions, with right-wing outfits holding protests for strict action against the arrested suspects.

According to Sajjan Singh, deputy superintendent of police of Masuda, five minors were allegedly sexually exploited and forced to convert.

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Three FIRs have been filed in the case so far.

“Parents of one of the victims saw her talking to someone overnight and found a phone with her. Then they realised that a crime had been committed and filed an FIR at the police station. Until now, five girls have come forward complaining against the accused. About 13 people have been named in the FIR, and 10 arrested. We have taken the accused on remand and further investigation is ongoing,” Singh said.

Among those named in the FIR is the owner of a local café, where the sexual assault allegedly took place.

On February 21, the Beawar Municipality sent notices to 10 of 13 suspects in the case.

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Notice has also been issued to the local mosque, the Jama Masjid. It states: “You are informed through notice that in the context of administrative investigation, Jama Masjid is established at Kekri Road Rajnagar Chauraha in Nagarpalika Bijaynagar area, on which you are carrying out religious activities. If you have any ownership document or any other document related to ownership in respect of the said place/land, then present it before the undersigned within 03 days of receipt of the notice. Otherwise, after the expiry of the period, action will be taken under Rajasthan Nagarpalika Act 2009, for which you yourself will be responsible”.

Similarly, a notice sent to the café where the alleged sexual assault took place asks its owners to “remove the encroachments outside the café in the next 24 hours”.

The other eight notices — all issued to those named in the police FIR – are also similarly worded.

When contacted, Beawar Municipality Executive Officer Pratap Singh confirmed the development but denied these were “demolition notices”, telling The Indian Express: “Action will be taken as per the Rajasthan Municipality rules”.

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