Alcohol as a Weapon of Silence

India is a country known for its rich cultural heritage and traditions that honour women in many forms, including the worship of “devis” (goddesses). Yet, the ugly and horrifying truth is that there are approximately 86 rape cases registered daily. This figure is based on the 2021 annual report of the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which recorded a total of 31,677 rape cases across the country. A recent case from Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan has shocked the whole country and once again raised painful questions about the safety of children and the failures of those responsible for protecting them. A 13-year-old girl was allegedly kidnapped, trafficked and repeatedly raped by several men over five days. According to the First Information Report (FIR), whenever she cried out in pain or resisted, she was allegedly given alcohol to keep her silent. These disturbing allegations have triggered widespread protests, calls for strict punishment, and an ongoing police investigation.

The incident was highlighted when the girl’s family reported her missing. According to Sri Ganganagar Superintendent of Police Hari Shankar, the girl’s mother approached the RIICO police outpost on June 22 and informed officers that her daughter had been missing since June 18 while she was away at work. The police department immediately launched a search operation. On June 23, the police raided a hotel in Sri Ganganagar and rescued the 13-year-old girl. During the search operation, the police took the hotel operator and two employees into custody. The intensity of the case only came to the surface when the girl felt safe enough to talk to an official counsellor at the women’s police station. An FIR was registered,d and the case was handed over to Kailash Dan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Women’s Crime Prevention Cell.

According to the FIR, the girl was abducted by an e-rickshaw driver and taken to a local hotel owner. She was kept at a hotel and allegedly 30 men repeatedly sexually assaulted her over five days. The FIR also stated that she was forced to consume alcohol when she was in pain so that she would stay silent. The investigators also found that the assaults continued to happen in daylight hours, making the case even more disturbing. Looking at the seriousness of the case, the Rajasthan Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Deepak Kumar and Additional Superintendent of Police Neelam Chaudhary from the Women’s Crime Investigation Cell. The SIT has been investigating the case with the help of technical evidence, CCTV footage, thorough inspection of the crime scenes and the victim’s identification of those involved. The investigation team has stated that the hotel owner and the employees kept the girl confined inside the hotel and enabled the continuous sexual assault by allowing several men to enter the premises. The SIT also believes the crime was carefully executed with coordination among the accused, making the investigation both sensitive and complex.

The police have arrested 14 accused, including a hotel owner and two hotel managers. Those arrested include Mayank (20), Hardeep Singh (28), Ram Babu (27), Sachin Kumar (18) and Gurpal, also known as Guri (18), among others. The police have stated that the investigation is still ongoing and anyone who has been involved will face strict legal action. The district administration has also taken serious action against the properties connected to the case. On July 1, three hotels- Hotel Khunger, Joy Inn and Hotel Sapphire were demolished for violating building bye-laws. One of these hotels was the place where the girl was rescued. Later, the officials clarified that the properties were demolished because of the building violations, while the sexual assault investigation is being conducted separately.

The case sparked anger among the citizens of Sri Ganganagar. The citizens organised a silent march through the city, demanding justice for the minor and calling for the death penalty for those convicted in the case. The protests ignited the existing frustration over crime against women and children. It raised concerns about how crimes like these can occur for several days without being detected. The district Congress president and Karanpur MLA Rupinder Singh Kooner, Congress in-charge Zia Ur Rahman and several party workers held a dharna, raised slogans against the police and hotel operators. The Congress party raised three major demands before the government: immediate action should be taken against the accused, including the hotel operators and e-rickshaw driver, suspension of police officials concerned, and a fast and impartial investigation.

As public anger grew, misinformation also started circulating online. A video of a young girl crying on a hospital bed with her family was spread across social media, with claims that it is related to the Sri Ganganagar case. Rajasthan Police later clarified that the video was actually from Hardoi, Uttar Pradesh and had no connection to the Sri Ganganagar case. In a post on X, the police also urged people not to spread rumours and shared a statement from Hardoi Police confirming the video’s true origin.

The legal battle has only begun. Authorities are still collecting evidence, information and identifying anyone else who may have been involved. The case has drawn attention not only because of the disturbing allegations but also because it has exposed larger concerns surrounding child trafficking, illegal hotel operations and law enforcement oversight. The public awaits the outcome of the investigation, but their demands stay clear and unshakable: a fair and transparent process that ensures justice for the victim.

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