Man arrested for raping seven girls while posing as college teacher

A 30-year-old man in Sidhi district of the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has been arrested for raping at least seven girls after posing as a college teacher and summoning them to collect documents for their scholarship, police said on Saturday (May 25).

Most of the survivors belong to tribal communities. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav ordered an investigation into the case by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

Three accomplices of the main accused Brajesh Prajapati were also arrested, said Inspector General (IG) of Rewa Range, Mahendra Singh Sikarwar.

Mode of operation

Prajapati called female students while posing as a college teacher of a college in Tikari and asked them to meet to fill out the paperwork so that their scholarships could be disbursed, the police official said. “Her son” would take them to her house, the caller told the potential victims.

In order to sound like a woman, he changed his voice using an app, said the inspector general. After the crime, he took the girl’s cell phone away.

According to one of the plaintiffs, after such a conversation, Prajapati personally picked her up on a motorcycle, wearing a helmet and gloves, took her to a deserted place and allegedly raped her there.

During their investigation, the police discovered that the perpetrator had burns and injuries on his hands and were finally able to catch him.

“Confessed to raping seven girls”

While Prajapati confessed to raping seven girls, four girls came forward and filed a complaint, IG Sikarwar said.

He may have raped more girls and an investigation is underway, the official said.

His accomplices Lavkush Prajapati, Rahul Prajapati and Sandeep Prajapati were also arrested and 16 mobile phones were recovered from them. One of them was a college student and had the numbers of girls from a WhatsApp group of the college, the IG said.

Their exact role in the crimes had yet to be determined.

Registered cases

The first case of rape, kidnapping, assault and robbery was registered on May 16 following an incident on May 13. Two more cases were registered on May 18 and 23 in connection with crimes that took place on May 4 and 20 respectively. Another FIR was registered on May 19 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act in connection with a crime that took place on April 15, police officials said.

On CM Yadav’s directions, IG Sikarwar has formed a nine-member SIT headed by Kusmi Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Roshni Singh Thakur, which will submit its report in seven days, officials said.

“Anyone who commits such reprehensible acts is an enemy of society. The most severe measures will be taken against the accused. They will not be spared at any cost,” the Prime Minister wrote on X.

Kamal Nath wants investigation

Congress leader Kamal Nath demanded a high-level investigation.

“Can girls from tribal communities in Madhya Pradesh not even study in university without fear? … What does the slogan ‘Beti Padhao, Beti Bachao’ mean?” the former chief minister asked on X, pointing out that Madhya Pradesh leads the country in the number of crimes against tribals and women.

“Not a day goes by without news of atrocities against tribal people coming to light in Madhya Pradesh,” he said, while appealing for financial assistance to the survivors in the Sidhi case.

(With agency contributions)