AJMER: Several towns in Rajasthan observed a bandh Monday, demanding swift and strict action against the suspects of an alleged targeted sexual exploitation of schoolgirls from the majority community in Bijaynagar of Beawar district.
Police have arrested seven men on charges of assault, blackmail, and forced religious conversion of a group of girls. The arrested men include Rihan Mohammad, Lukman, Sohail Mansuri, Arman Pathan, Sahil Kureshi, Kareem, Shravan Kumar, and former councillor Hakem Qureshi.
"Only one accused is left to be arrested," Ajmer range DIG Om Prakash said, assuring that police would file a charge sheet and expedite the legal proceedings. Addressing the allegations of religious conversions, he said: "These are under investigation." The alleged crime was discovered when a girl's parent found her talking to someone at night. "The accused gifted China-made small mobiles and forced them to talk to them and also ask their friends to talk with them, and with this, they were physically exploiting them," according to the FIR.
Following complaints from the parents on Feb 15, municipal authorities had served notices to the families of the accused for alleged encroachments.

Protests were recorded across different towns. In Beawar, markets remained shut and protesters carried out a rally. In Gulabpura, residents marched to the SDM's office. A similar demonstration was held in Kekri. Baghera town also observed a shutdown, as did Nasirabad and Bhinai.
Deputy CM Diya Kumari vowed stringent action against the culprits. State assembly speaker Vasudev Devnani held meetings with police officers and instructed them to take firm action against those found guilty.