AHMEDABAD: A 24-year-old woman has accused 10 people, including four local BJP leaders, for allegedly gang raping her repeatedly in Gujarat’s Kutch district.
The girl was allegedly forced into prostitution by the accused, who blackmailed her after filming the rape.
In the First Information Report (FIR), the victim has also alleged that the accused lured many other girls and women into prostitution and exploited them sexually after promising jobs to them in Naliya town of Kutch district.
“They raped me repeatedly at various places, including in a car, and they also filmed it and threatened that [if] I did not submit to their wishes, they would circulate the video clip on social media,” the victim said in the FIR.
On Tuesday, border range Inspector General of Police (IG) A. K. Jadeja said that four accused, including the main accused Shantilal Solanki, have already been arrested and the remaining will be caught soon. He added that the police have constituted a special investigation team (SIT) with two woman police officials to probe the case.
BJP workers suspended
Meanwhile, the Gujarat BJP suspended four party workers, whose names have figured in the FIR. “Those sacked by the party include Shantilal Solanki, Govind Parumalani, Ajit Ramvani and Vasant Bhanushali,” the party said.
Speaking to reporters, the Congress leader and MLA from Kutch, Shaktisinh Gohil, demanded a court-monitored probe in the case. He said, “It is shocking that BJP leaders in Kutch were involved in running an organized sex racket, in which young girls were lured and exploited sexually.”
Mr. Gohil and the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Shankarsinh Vaghela, have alleged that “big leaders” of the Gujarat BJP were involved in the racket.
Gujarat’s Minister of State for Home Pradipsinh Jadeja said “nobody would be spared and the police have already arrested three persons named in the compliant.” The incident has snowballed into a major political controversy. The Opposition party, Congress, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) — which is trying to gain a foothold in the State — have slammed the ruling BJP for failing to protect women.
