Gujarat: Two minor Muslim girls sexually abused by teacher, families allege communal bias in probe
Amreli (Gujarat): In a harrowing incident that has sent shockwaves through the Bharat Nagar municipality school in Amreli, two minor Muslim girls—Zainab (8) and Safeena (10)—were allegedly subjected to sexual abuse by their teacher for eight consecutive days. The disturbing crime came to light when Zainab’s family found her sobbing in a corner, leading them to uncover the horrific details of the abuse. The incident occurred just days before International Women’s Day on March 8, at a time when the country was making tall claims about women’s empowerment.
According to a detailed report published in Twocircles.net, the accused teacher, identified as Mahendra Patel, has a troubling history of alleged physical assault cases. However, families of the survivors claim that he had managed to evade legal consequences due to his “RSS links” and “Hindu identity.”
Zainab’s elder brother, speaking to Twocircles.net, expressed deep anguish over the ordeal his younger sister had to endure.
“What the teacher, Mahendra Patel, did with my sister is terrible. My sister is only eight years old and a student in standard three. We are still in shock, but we have decided to raise our voices,” he said.
Safeena’s father was too traumatised to speak, but her uncle alleged that the incident was not just a case of sexual violence but also a reflection of growing communal hate against the Muslim community.
“All the students at this municipal school are Muslims. The incident is a repercussion of the rapidly growing hate against Muslims. We are not politically backed like the accused, but we have self-respect, and we can sense the injustice,” he said.
According to Twocircles.net, Mahendra Patel had a pattern of abusive behavior. He allegedly forced students to consume alcohol and sometimes even poured liquor into their water bottles to impair their senses. The survivors’ families claim that the teacher manipulated and intimidated the children, forcing them into silence.
Zainab’s uncle described the difficulty in seeking justice, particularly given the political affiliations of the accused.
“Such cases of physical abuse are beyond disgust. But the way to reach justice is truly difficult—particularly when the culprit is associated with Hindutva outfits. He also threatened our daughter to silence her,” he alleged.
Local Muslims in the area have pointed to a larger pattern of negligence towards schools in Muslim-majority localities. The Bharat Nagar municipality school, where the crime occurred, reportedly operates with only two teachers. Many in the community believe that the lack of accountability and proper oversight allowed Patel to continue his predatory actions unchecked.
The parents of the survivors first grew suspicious when they noticed the foul smell of liquor on their children. Concerned about what might be happening at school, they gathered a group of locals and devised a plan to catch the accused in the act. The following day, they arrived at the school premises during lunch hours and allegedly caught Patel red-handed.
Gujarat-based reporter and social worker Rafique, speaking to Twocircles.net, confirmed the sequence of events.
“Mahendra was harassing the kids for many days. A lot of people have witnessed the incident. When locals, including Zainab’s parents, suddenly opened the doors, they found the teacher involved in the obscene act,” he said.
Following the discovery, the families of the survivors immediately approached the police to file a complaint. However, as reported by Twocircles.net, the police allegedly took an unusually long time—around seven to eight hours—to register an FIR. The families and community members suspect that this delay was due to the accused’s Hindu identity and his alleged links with the ruling BJP and its ideological mentor, the RSS.
Zainab’s family was also allegedly pressured to drop the case in exchange for money.
“We were asked to take Rs 50 lakhs and not to pursue the case because the perpetrator is closely associated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the RSS,” alleged Zainab’s uncle.
Despite these attempts, the families, backed by local Muslims, refused to accept any settlement and demanded strict action against the accused.
As news of the crime spread, the Patel community and Hindutva organisations allegedly rallied behind the accused and reached the police station in his support. Meanwhile, local Muslims held demonstrations demanding justice. Influential members of the community, under the banner of Darul Uloom Mehbubiyah, wrote to authorities seeking strict punishment for Patel.
The second teacher at the school, who was reportedly uninvolved in the crime, also joined the protests in support of the survivors. Protesters emphasized that this was not Patel’s first offense, urging authorities to conduct a deeper investigation.
Eventually, a case was registered against Mahendra Patel under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and he was arrested. However, community members believe that the case requires a more thorough and independent investigation, as several other linked offenses may have gone unnoticed.
Gujarat-based activist Mujahid Nafees, who has been advocating for justice in the case, shared his concerns with Twocircles.net.
“We have met the families and held a protest. We have also written a letter to the DGP, urging him for compensation. The communal angle is quite clear in the case. The police took around seven to eight hours to register an FIR,” he said.
The survivors’ families have demanded that the case be tried in a fast-track special court. They have also called for the formation of an independent investigation panel to ensure transparency and accountability in the probe.
Nafees pointed out that the involvement of right-wing groups in the case raises larger questions about the intersection of communalism, sexism, and political influence.
“On a social dais, this case exposes an awful blend of communalism, sexism, and politics-backed terror against Muslims and girls. Other families who came across the incident through the news now fear for the security of their daughters. Seeing a heinous criminal being cheered up by hateful throngs not only breaks the myth of alleged development in Gujarat but also annihilates the trust of the Muslim community,” he concluded.
(Names have been changed to protect the privacy and identity of the minor survivors.)
This report is based on details published in Twocircles.net.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
