A 13‑year‑old girl was allegedly trafficked and raped by more than 30 men over five days. Outrage has been sparked by news of the atrocicity, across Rajasthan’s Sri Ganganagar district, near the India-Pakistan border. Police have said the ordeal began when the child vanished from her home and was lured by a rickshaw driver, who sold her to a hotel owner.
According to the First Information Report (FIR), several other hotel operators also participated in her exploitation, with assaults taking place across multiple hotels. The girl’s statement reveals she was forced to consume alcohol whenever she complained of pain from repeated rapes. Disturbing photographs of her were reportedly taken and circulated by hotel managers, which eventually reached the police and exposed the crime.
Supt of Police Harishankar Yadav confirmed: “The victim’s statement has been recorded, and further legal action is underway. Eight accused have been arrested so far, while other suspects have been detained for questioning.”
“Strict action will be taken against the hotels involved. Once the investigation concludes, proceedings to seal the hotels will be initiated, and if operators are found complicit, stern legal action will follow.”
Digital evidence has widened the probe. Police examined hotel registers, CCTV footage, mobile phone records and chats, uncovering fresh leads.
Officials said photographs recovered from mobile phones have put several more suspects under scrutiny, and a charge sheet will be prepared based on the victim’s testimony and digital evidence.
Public anger has exploded. Sri Ganganagar, despite not being a tourist hub, hosts around 150 illegal hotels, raising serious questions about lax enforcement. Demands for their closure have intensified.
The Congress party staged demonstrations, with Rupinder Singh Kunnar, MLA from Karanpur, declaring that the criminals “must be executed”. He warned that if prompt action is not taken, the opposition will launch a larger campaign to ensure justice.
Congress also demanded suspension of police personnel from the local station, arguing that the incident exposed failures of both the administration and law enforcement. According to local media, former Congress MLA Rajkumar Gaur called the case a “stain on the district,” while BJP leader Mahesh Peddiwal warned that illegal hotels had become “dens of lust” and must be demolished.
Locals have staged marches and sit‑ins, demanding capital punishment for the perpetrators.
With investigations ongoing, the pressure is mounting on authorities to deliver swift justice and dismantle the network of illegal hotels that enabled the crime.
