A troubling case has emerged from the Bhandra block in the Lohardaga district, Jharkhand, where an eighth-grade minor Hindu girl has allegedly been abducted by a married Islamist man under the pretext of marriage. Based on the reports from Hindustan, the accused, identified as Islamist Firoz Rai, alias Chand, a 24-year-old resident of Sons village in Ranchi’s Chanho block, reportedly exploited the minor before eloping with her on December 19. Firoz, who is married and a father of two, is accused of luring the girl into his trap.
The girl, who attended a private school, had informed her family she was leaving to seek medical treatment but did not return home. Concerned about her prolonged absence, her family began searching for her. They later discovered that an Islamist man had deceived their daughter and taken her away.
The victim’s family approached the Bhandra police station and filed a formal complaint, urging authorities to locate and rescue their daughter. When the family visited Islamist Firoz’s home, they were informed he had been missing since December 19.
Arvind Kumar Singh, the officer-in-charge of Bhandra police station, confirmed that a case has been filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act based on the family’s complaint. “This is a case of luring and kidnapping a minor with the intent of sexual exploitation. Investigations are ongoing,” Singh stated.
The incident is part of a concerning trend in Jharkhand, where crimes targeting women and minors have reportedly risen in recent years. In 2022, reports highlighted an increase in such incidents across the state. Similar cases have also been documented, including one involving an individual accused of kidnapping three minor girls.
The victim’s family has urged authorities to take swift action to ensure the girl’s safe return and to prevent such incidents in the future. The JMM-Congress-led government in Jharkhand has come under scrutiny for its inability to ensure the safety of women and girls in the state. Reports indicate a disturbing rise in crimes against women, especially Hindu women, since 2024. Cases involving sexual exploitation, abduction, and violence have seen a sharp increase, raising serious concerns about law and order in the region.
