Bhind Extortion Racket: HIV-Positive Woman Among Accused
A police investigation into a racket in Madhya Pradesh's Bhind district, which allegedly trapped unsuspecting men into a web of blackmail and extortion by threatening to implicate them in false rape cases, has uncovered a disturbing detail. One of the two women arrested in connection with the racket has been undergoing treatment for HIV over the past three years.
The racket was busted nearly three weeks ago after a farmer filed a complaint with the Bhind Dehat police station on May 27. He alleged that a woman approached him on May 23 while he was returning from the market, claiming she had a pain in her leg and asking for a ride home. The gang later threatened to implicate him in a false rape case and release objectionable videos unless he met their monetary demands.
Police have now called upon other possible victims to come forward, register complaints, and take an HIV test, as several people may have been victimized by the gang. Bhind Dehat police station in-charge Shivpratap Singh Rajawat stated, "Over the course of investigation, we learned that one of the two accused women behind the racket has been undergoing treatment for HIV for the last three years."
Acting on the farmer's complaint, police arrested all four accused named in the FIR: two women, both aged around 35, and two men aged 25 and 40. "We seized some videos from the woman undergoing treatment for HIV. Through our sources, we have already traced and identified at least three to four persons who were victimized by her. She even registered a false rape case against one of them after failing to extort money," Rajawat added.
Police suspect there are more victims, but many may be reluctant to come forward due to stigma and fear of social exclusion. "We are trying to trace the other victims, counsel them for registering complaints and take the HIV test for their own safety. However, we understand why these people may not be willing to come forward due to fear of social stigma. All the four accused were sent to judicial remand. We would look into all aspects of the case as the probe unfolds further," Rajawat concluded.
