The special POCSO court has convicted the remaining 6 accused in the gangrape and blackmail case that took place 32 years ago in Ajmer. The court will soon pronounce the sentence on these convicts. These include Nafees Chishti, Naseem alias Tarzan, Salim Chishti, Sohil Gani, Syed Zameer Hussain, while Iqbal Bhati is being brought from Delhi. There were a total of 18 accused in this case, out of which 9 have been sentenced. One accused is already in jail, one has committed suicide, and one is absconding. The verdict on the remaining 6 has come today.
Religious importance of Ajmer
Ajmer, which is known for the dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Hasan Chishti and the holy place of Brahma, Pushkar, is a religious tourist destination. The identity of the Ganga-Jamuni culture here got tarnished during the years 1990 to 1992, when incidents of gang rape and blackmailing came to light.
sequence of events
The youth were getting inclined towards the western world and the fear of law had diminished in the society. The people of the society and the administration were not serious about these incidents. In Ajmer in 1992, more than 100 school and college girls were blackmailed and sexually exploited.
Media disclosure
This scandal was first exposed by a young journalist's report in the newspaper. The report revealed blackmailing and sexual exploitation of school girls on the basis of their nude photographs. This news spread like wildfire and created an uproar in the whole of Rajasthan.
Agitation and punishment
After the news, people came out on the streets and declared Ajmer Bandh. Organizations like Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal protested strongly. Lawyers also played an important role in this case and helped in getting the accused culprits punished. Ajmer District Bar Association demanded that the accused be put in jail under the National Security Act.
The journey of truth and punishment
CID CB started the investigation and arrested many influential people. Many important revelations were made during the investigation. Many accused had committed suicide or absconded. In 1998, eight convicts were sentenced to life imprisonment, but the Rajasthan High Court acquitted four of them. The Supreme Court reduced the sentence of the remaining four. Farooq Chishti's sentence was reduced in 2013 and Salim Chishti remained in jail till 2018.
Controversy over the film 'Ajmer 92'
A film based on this scandal 'Ajmer 92' has been released recently. The film claims that it is the story of 250 girls who became victims of blackmailing and sexual exploitation. The film has been opposed by the Khadim community and other organizations of the Muslim society. They say that the events have been presented in a wrong way in the film and the Khadim community has been defamed. Even after 32 years, many victims in this case are still waiting for justice. Many accused are on bail and some have been acquitted. The Ajmer gang rape and blackmail scandal is a painful incident that is an eye-opener for the society.
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