Horror in Jaisalmer: Refugee Girl’s Ordeal Exposes Deep Fault Lines

Image: Jihad Watch

A deeply disturbing case of abduction and sexual assault has rocked Jaisalmer, Rajasthan, shaking the confidence of vulnerable refugee communities who had come to India in search of safety. The victim, a young Hindu girl from a Pakistani refugee family, was allegedly kidnapped and raped in late July — an incident that has sparked protests and outrage, while also raising uncomfortable questions about justice and protection for displaced Hindus.

The Night of the Abduction

According to the FIR lodged on August 5 at the Jaisalmer Women’s Police Station, the ordeal began in the early hours of July 28. Around 1:30 a.m., four Muslim men, including one identified as Fazal Mohammad, allegedly forced the girl into a car. She was taken to a secluded room near the Mohangarh bypass. There, Fazal reportedly raped her while the other three remained present. The perpetrators threatened to wipe out her entire family if she revealed the crime. Later, when they received a phone call warning that relatives and police were searching for her, they abandoned the terrified girl on the roadside. She was eventually found and rescued by the police.

A Pattern of Abuse

The victim had recently turned 18 and was married just weeks earlier, on June 8. At the time of the assault, she had been staying at her parents’ home. In her statement, she revealed that this was not an isolated incident. For years, Fazal had harassed her — loitering near her house and targeting her whenever possible. On Valentine’s Day earlier this year, when her parents were away, he lured her outside, raped her, and filmed the act. Those images and videos became tools of blackmail. Every time she resisted, he threatened to make them public, coercing her into repeated assaults.

Tragically, her testimony revealed that the abuse had begun when she was still a minor. Fazal’s actions amounted to systematic grooming — trapping a vulnerable girl in a cycle of exploitation, threats, and fear.

Escalation Before the Abduction

On July 27, after she returned to her parental home from her in-laws, the threats intensified. A series of menacing calls warned her of dire consequences. The next night, Fazal and his associates — identified as Qurban Khan, Sabir Khan, and another accomplice — arrived in a car and carried out the brazen abduction that culminated in her being raped and dumped on the roadside.

Initially, the girl was hesitant to reveal the entire truth, paralyzed by the fear of retribution. Only after confiding in her uncle did she disclose the years of blackmail, harassment, and sexual violence. Her detailed statement led to the registration of the FIR. But shockingly, even more than twenty days later, no arrests had been made.

Community Outrage and Protests

The delay in action ignited anger within the refugee community. Members of the displaced Bhil families from Pakistan, supported by activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), staged protests at the district collectorate in Jaisalmer. Protesters carried placards, raised slogans, and demanded immediate arrests. Many expressed bitterness that despite fleeing Pakistan to escape abductions and forced conversions of their daughters, they were now facing similar threats in India.

“If we are not safe here, then where do we belong?” asked one anguished protester, capturing the sentiment of an entire community that feels betrayed by a system they had trusted.

Political and Social Silence

VHP leaders condemned the incident as an example of “love jihad” and warned authorities against taking it lightly. They vowed to continue their agitation until justice was delivered. Despite this, the district administration has issued no meaningful update, further fueling outrage.

The case has also turned political. Rajasthan, governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is expected to safeguard Hindu interests, yet the government’s failure to act decisively has been noted. Critics argue that not only has the state failed to protect a defenseless refugee girl from predatory elements, but it has also failed to deliver swift justice.

Meanwhile, the silence of opposition parties has drawn scrutiny. Many point out that since the accused belong to the Muslim community, opposition leaders who normally speak on women’s rights have stayed quiet. Even Dalit groups, known for protesting caste-based violence, have avoided taking up this cause, their alliances with Muslim groups often overshadowing solidarity with Hindu refugees.

Growing Disillusionment

For the refugee community, this silence is perhaps the most painful aspect. They fled Pakistan seeking refuge from the terror of abductions, forced conversions, and systemic persecution. In India, however, they now feel abandoned by both the ruling party and the opposition. The case remained conspicuously absent from mainstream media coverage for weeks, as if deliberately suppressed.

This prolonged inaction has deepened their disillusionment. To them, the ordeal is not just about one girl’s suffering but about the failure of India’s institutions to stand by the very people who looked to this country for protection.

(This Article was originally published by Jihad Watch)