Protests In Ayodhya After Samajwadi MP Awadhesh Prasad's Close Aide, Moeed Khan, Accused Of Raping-Impregnating Minor Hindu Girl

The newly elected Member of Parliament from the Faizabad constituency, Awadhesh Prasad, is facing substantial criticism from both locals and opposition political groups following allegations that a close aide of his raped and impregnated a minor girl.

Prasad's refusal to comment on the grave matter when questioned by the media yesterday, has only intensified the public outrage.

The victim is a Hindu girl from the Nishad caste.

The case has sparked protests from Hindu organisations, who say that similar cases of inter-religious sexual violence are increasing. Members of the Nishad Party are also at the forefront of the campaign seeking justice for her.

Anil Kumar, a senior member of the youth wing of the Nishad Party, told Swarajya that Khan is a known face of the Samajwadi Party in the area.

He said that both the girl and Khan reside in the Bhadarsa area of Ayodhya. The rape incident came to light last week when it was discovered that the girl was two months pregnant.

On questioning, she disclosed to her mother that she had been raped by Moeed Khan at his shop, where the assault was filmed by his assistant, Raju.

Kumar said that when the girl's mother attempted to report the incident at the Bhadarsa police chowki on 27 July, she was turned away.

As news spread and Nishad and Hindu activists intervened, a protest was held outside the chowki on 29 July. It was revealed that the chowki operated on a property owned by Khan, who holds significant influence in the area.

As the protests grew, the chowki was vacated, and its furniture was hurriedly relocated (a video of the shifting can be watched here).

Finally, the Ayodhya police intervened, and a case was registered the same evening. Khan and Raju have been charged with gang rape and offences under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. 

Details of the FIR

Swarajya accessed the first information report (FIR) filed on July 29 at Purakalandar police station of Ayodhya. According to the statement given by the girl's widowed mother that is recorded in the FIR, the girl is only 12 years old.

Raju told her that Khan wanted to offer her some work. When the girl went to see Khan, he grabbed her, taped her mouth, and raped her while Raju recorded the assault at Khan's behest.

Khan then used the video to blackmail the girl, repeatedly raping her in the subsequent days. The girl did not reveal the abuse to her mother out of fear and shame, but when she experienced severe stomach pain and was taken to a doctor, her pregnancy was discovered.

This revelation forced her mother to report the matter to the police.

Based on the statement, Raju and Khan were booked under IPC sections 376DA (gangrape of girl below 16 years of age) and 506 (criminal intimidation), along with sections 5(m) and 6 of the POCSO Act, 2012.

Action and reactions

As per an update posted by the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Ayodhya police today, both the accused have been arrested and sent to judicial custody.

Awadhesh Prasad, when questioned by the media outside the Delhi parliament house yesterday, simply said that “I am not able to say, I am not able to utter any words regarding the matter.” He said he was not aware of the facts of the case.

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has taken cognizance of the issue and issued a notice to the Ayodhya police chief requesting an action taken report (ATR).

Kanoongo posted on X (translated from Hindi), “In Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, there are reports that say a minor girl was raped by a man named Moeed Khan, who is said to be a local leader of the Samajwadi Party. Taking cognizance of this, a notice is being issued to the administration for the arrest of the accused and to provide rehabilitation, treatment, and assistance to the victim.”

So far, there has been no reaction from the senior leadership of the Samajwadi Party, including its head Akhilesh Yadav.