Bhopal, Nov 28 — Strong reactions continue to emerge after the arrest of the man accused of raping a six-year-old girl in Madhya Pradesh’s Raisen district. Senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister Uma Bharti on Friday demanded that the accused be given the death penalty, asserting that justice would be served only when the trial concludes swiftly and capital punishment is delivered within the next 40 days.
Bharti expressed deep anguish over the brutal assault, stating that anyone who commits such a heinous crime against a minor deserves no leniency. She also defended the police action during the arrest of the accused, Salman (23), who was injured in a brief encounter. “It would have been better if the police had done a full encounter,” Bharti said, adding that the government should now ensure that due legal procedures are expedited to guarantee a swift and exemplary punishment.
The incident took place on November 21 in Gauharganj area of Raisen, triggering massive public anger and protests that escalated into tense law-and-order situations across Bhopal and Raisen. With rising public pressure, the administration imposed prohibitory orders and deployed heavy police forces to prevent further violence.
The accused, Salman, had been absconding since the incident, prompting the announcement of a Rs 30,000 reward by the Raisen district administration. More than 15 police teams from surrounding districts were involved in the manhunt. However, a significant breakthrough came from the community when two youths from Naya Basti, Abdul Rizwan and Asif, identified Salman through CCTV footage circulating on social media.
Around 11:15 p.m. on Thursday, the youths informed police after spotting Salman in Bhopal’s Gandhi Nagar area. A Crime Branch team promptly reached the location and apprehended him. The youths later said Salman had claimed he lacked family support, lived alone in Karond, and had lost his mother.
According to Raisen Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Gupta, the accused was being transported to Raisen when the police vehicle broke down near Bhojpur’s Kiratnagar village. Seizing the opportunity, Salman allegedly attempted to flee by snatching a sub-inspector’s gun and firing at the police. Officers retaliated, shooting him in the leg before taking him to Bhopal’s Jai Prakash Hospital for first aid.
The arrest has brought some relief to the aggrieved community, but demands for strict punishment—echoed strongly by leaders like Uma Bharti—continue to intensify as the case moves toward trial.
