Man uses voice-changing app to pose as woman college teacher, rapes seven students
Sidhi (MP), May 25: A 30-year-old man has been arrested in Madhya Pradesh's Sidhi district for allegedly raping at least seven girls after posing as a woman college teacher and calling them in connection with scholarship funds, police said on Saturday.
Most of the survivors belong to tribal communities.
Brajesh Prajapati, the accused, used a voice-changing app to sound like a woman while talking to his potential victims on phone, police said.
While Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the case, the accused's unauthorised house was demolished following the arrest.
Three associates of Prajapati have also been arrested, said Rewa Range Inspector General (IG) Mahendra Singh Sikarwar.
Prajapati called girl students while posing as a woman college teacher from a collage at Tikari, and asked them to meet so that they could get a scholarship, the police official said. `Her son' will take them to her house, the caller would tell the girls.
After the crime, he would snatch away the girl's mobile phone.
As per one of the complainants, after one such conversation, Prajapati himself, wearing a helmet and hand gloves, picked her up on a motorcycle, took her to a deserted place and allegedly raped her.
During the probe, police learnt that the culprit had marks of burns and injuries on his hands, and finally nabbed him.
While Prajapati confessed to raping seven girls, four girls have come forward to lodge complaints, IG Sikarwar said.
He could have raped more girls and probe was on, the official said.
His associates Lavkush Prajapati, Rahul Prajapati and Sandeep Prajapati were also arrested and 16 mobile phones were recovered from them. One of them was a college student and got numbers of girls from a college WhatsApp group, the IG said.
Their exact roles in the crimes were yet to be ascertained.
The first case of rape, kidnapping, assault and robbery was registered on May 16 following an incident of May 13. Two more cases were registered on May 18 and May 23 over crimes that had taken place on May 4 and May 20, respectively. Another FIR was registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act on May 19 over a crime that had taken place on April 15, police officials said.
Following directives from CM Yadav, IG Sikarwar constituted a nine-member SIT headed by Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) of Kusmi, Roshni Singh Thakur which will submit its report in seven days, officials said.
"Those who commit such condemnable acts are enemies of society, strictest action will be taken against the accused. They will not be spared at any cost," the chief minister wrote on X.
Congress leader Kamal Nath demanded a high-level inquiry.
"Can't girls from the tribal community in Madhya Pradesh even study in college without fear?....what is the meaning of the slogan - Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao?" the former chief minister asked on X, noting that Madhya Pradesh led in the country in terms of crimes against tribals and women.
"Not a day goes by when news of atrocities on tribals does not come to light in Madhya Pradesh," he said, while seeking financial assistance for the survivors in the Sidhi case.
Meanwhile, Prajapati's house at Panwar village in the district was demolished following the arrest. The house had been built on government land without permission, a district official told reporters.
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NIA registers case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal
New Delhi (PTI): The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday registered a case to probe recovery of 79 crude bombs in poll-bound West Bengal, officials said.
The move came following a directive by the Union Home Ministry in this regard, they said.
In pursuance to the home ministry's order, the anti-terror agency on Sunday registered a case, which was originally filed at Uttar Kashi police station, Bhangar division, Kolkata on Saturday, and took up the investigation, an NIA spokesperson said in a late night statement.
"The case pertains to recovery of 79 crude bombs and other incriminating materials by Kolkata police, which were being stored at a spot, thereby endangering human life and property," the spokesperson said.
Earlier in the day, the Election Commission had directed the West Bengal Police to launch a special drive to arrest those involved in illegal manufacturing of crude bombs in the poll-bound state, an official said.
It asserted that all cases related to the making of any such explosive would be probed by the National Investigation Agency, the official said.
The directive came after the police recovered a large number of crude bombs from the house of a person, allegedly a TMC worker, at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district, days ahead of the second and final phase of the assembly polls in the state.
The explosives were recovered during a search at the residence of Rafikul Islam following specific inputs, the official said.
The poll panel also issued a warning to senior police officers across the state over any lapse in maintaining law and order before the April 29 polling.
The first phase of the assembly elections in West Bengal was held on April 23, while the second phase will take place on April 29. Votes will be counted on May 4.
A record 93.19 per cent turnout has been recorded in the first round of polling. Bhangar will vote in the second phase.
