Are Hindu Girl Students Being Targeted and Exploited in Bhopal?

Synopsis
The alarming revelations regarding the sexual exploitation of Hindu girl students in Bhopal have sparked outrage and concern. NHRC member Priyank Kanoongo has shed light on these troubling incidents, urging victims to come forward for justice. This situation calls for immediate attention and accountability from authorities.
Key Takeaways
- Systematic targeting of Hindu girl students reported.
- NHRC investigating claims of sexual exploitation.
- Victims encouraged to report incidents confidentially.
- Five arrests made in connection with the case.
- Community support is vital for victim safety.
Bhopal, May 14 (NationPress) Priyank Kanoongo, a member of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), stated on Wednesday that Hindu girl students in Bhopal are being systematically targeted and subjected to sexual exploitation.
Kanoongo's remarks were made in light of a significant incident involving an alleged love jihad nexus that was exposed recently, where several female students from a private engineering institution reported sexual abuse by a group from the Muslim community.
Upon learning of these allegations, an NHRC investigation team was dispatched to Bhopal to delve into the matter, with plans to conduct a thorough inquiry over two days.
Currently, six victims have come forward, but the actual number may rise. "The NHRC urges the victims and their families to step forward to file complaints, assuring them of confidentiality. Preliminary investigations have indicated that Hindu girls were specifically targeted and suffered sexual abuse. The perpetrators not only exploited them sexually but also recorded the incidents, administered intoxicants, and coerced them into converting their religion," Kanoongo informed IANS.
He emphasized that numerous aspects of the case warrant investigation, and the NHRC team is committed to clarifying the situation within the next two days.
Additionally, he raised concerns regarding the Bhopal Police's inaction, noting that a police station was situated a mere 500 meters from the college yet no action was taken. "Criminal activity was rampant, yet the Bhopal Police remained inactive. I suspect that evidence may have been tampered with during their investigation. We will conduct a thorough inquiry and present a detailed report soon," he added.
In response to this alarming situation, the Madhya Pradesh government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of senior police officials to probe the matter further.
To date, five individuals have been apprehended for allegedly raping female students by concealing their identities and blackmailing them using recorded footage.
The primary suspect, Farhan Ali, was taken into custody on May 3 in Bhopal.