With Hindutva hardliners leading the public outrage in the sordid sex and blackmail case, protests erupted across Vijay Nagar, in Rajasthan’s Beawar district, leading to calls for severe punishment, including the demand for ‘bulldozer action’ against the accused. (Photo: Kamran Akhter/The Quint)

By Rajan Mahan

A sordid sex and blackmail case has rapidly turned into a brazen bid to communalise a crime in Rajasthan.

The shocking case of sexual abuse and exploitation of five minor girls rocked Vijay Nagar in the state’s Beawar district on 16 February, when three FIRs were lodged, alleging that a group of men had been sexually assaulting minor girls, filming the acts, and using the footage to blackmail them.

But with all the accused belonging to one community, what started as a criminal investigation has spiralled into a communal flashpoint, creating a politically charged atmosphere that has inflamed social frictions and religious divisions.

This story was originally published in thequint.com. Read the full story here.