Bhopal Rape And Blackmailing Case: NHRC Team Begins Probe, Flags Lapses In Police Investigation

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): A three-member team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), headed by Priyank Kanungo, begun its investigation into the rape and blackmailing of girl students of a private college, The case surfaced on April 18 and five people including the kingpin of the racket have been arrested.

On Wednesday, the team visited the college involved, and questioned the authorities regarding the case. The NHRC members also reviewed the safety measures taken by the management for students. The team also met some of the victims and recorded their statements.

Dissatisfied with the police investigation so far, the NHRC team has advised the officers to probe certain aspects of the case to help uncover the larger racket.

The NHRC team, which arrived on Tuesday, is expected to submit its report and recommendations after two days.

Speaking to media persons, Kanungo stated that the NHRC had received complaints that a group of Hindu girl students at the college were targeted, sexually abused, and forced into drug addiction. They were reportedly blackmailed with private videos and forced into religious conversions, he added.

The probe team member further said that some victims have come forward, but it is suspected that their number may cross a dozen. “Any other victim or citizen who wants to share information about the case may approach the NHRC team, the member said.

He further stressed the need for police to probe the funding sources of the accused, pointing that they were using expensive bikes and spending lavishly on the victims to lure them.

“The police should seize their bikes and trace the money trail to examine possibilities of money laundering and hawala transactions. It has also come to light that Club 90, located near the college, was a student hangout where drugs were used.

However, the police failed to collect evidence from its six cabins before they were demolished,” Kanungo said. Kanungo also raised questions on the role of local police for its failure to take action against the Club.

He also claimed that some locals were involved in college admissions in exchange for cash and influencing students.

NHRC team has included certain points in its two-day probe to present a clearer picture of the case, he said.

Notably, police have so far arrested five people in the case including the prime accused Farhan Khan and Ali while the sixth accused Abrar remains at large.