By Nikita Jain
Tensions are high in Rajasthan’s Beawar District after ten youth were arrested for allegedly molesting minor girls in the area. The incident has flared the Hindus in the area as out of the ten arrested youth, nine are Muslims.
The incident came to light last week when a China-based mobile phone was found in one of the girls’ houses by her parents. On further interrogation, the girls named local boys whom they had been speaking to and met a few times over coffee. The situation escalated when the Hindutva groups in the area alleged that the men blackmailed the girls and were forcing them to convert to Islam, giving it a love jihad spin.
Speaking to Maktoob, Rehmat, who is the lawyer representing the youth, said, “This was nothing, just young boys and girls trying to get to know each other. However, the local Hindu groups are giving it a love jihad angle, which it is not.”
The boys, aged between 18-19, had allegedly tried to befriend the girls, who were minors and studying in class 10 and beyond.
“One guy named Rohit was speaking to one of the girls when the accused asked him to introduce them to girls as well,” Rehmat added.
The accused have been identified as Rihan Mohammad (20), Sohail Mansuri (19), Shoaib (20), Arman Pathan (19), and Sahil Qureshi (19), who are all from Vijaynagar and nearby areas. Three minors have also been detained by the local police.
This story was originally published in maktoobmedia.com. Read the full story here.