New Delhi, Three individuals, identified as members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s IT Cell, have been arrested in connection with the gang-rape of a 20-year-old student in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. The incident, which occurred on November 1, has sparked widespread outrage, especially as photographs of the accused with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders have surfaced on social media.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the accused, Saksham Patel, Kunal Pandey, and Anand alias Abishek Chouhan, were apprehended on Saturday, two months following the assault at the campus of IIT-BHU. Reports indicate that they not only raped the student but also recorded a video of the act. The incident led to substantial protests at the university, with calls for the swift arrest and prosecution of the perpetrators.
The public reaction intensified as images of the arrested individuals with prominent BJP figures, including Prime Minister Modi, Minister of Women and Child Development Smriti Irani, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and other party leaders, began circulating online. Among these, a photo of Saksham Patel in a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) uniform also gained attention. Subsequently, several pictures featuring two of the accused with BJP leaders were removed from the X platform, formerly known as Twitter, raising questions about the deletion’s motives and authorization.
The case has also attracted comments from journalists and filmmakers. Rohini Singh, a journalist, condemned the accused, linking their online behavior to the heinous crime. Filmmaker Vinod Kapri, while addressing Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on social media, sarcastically questioned the government’s response to the incident, implying a contrast in treatment compared to other cases. Additionally, some social media users have criticized certain news anchors known for their proximity to the BJP for not adequately covering the story in their prime time segments.
The incident and its aftermath have stirred a national conversation about political affiliations, social media influence, and the treatment of criminal cases involving political party members.