Five weeks after a Dalit woman alleged that she was sexually exploited by a powerful carpet exporter in Bhadohi district for 13 years, police arrested exporter Ghulam Rasool on Saturday evening.“Rasool, the owner of Shining Carpets, was arrested on Saturday evening from Lalanagar area under Gopiganj police station when he was on the way to a relative’s house after stepping down from a bus,” Bhadohi SP S N Upadhyaya told The Indian Express over phone on Sunday.Rasool, a middle-aged man, admitted having sexual relations with the West Bengal migrant for six years with her consent. “Rasool claimed he was ready to solemnise nikah with the girl,” Upadhyaya said.Meanwhile, Rachna Rai, the daughter of Pushpa and V K Rai who have been championing the victim’s cause, is still untraceable. “Rasool claimed he had no role in Rachna’s sudden disappearance,” the SP added.Rachna had gone missing on February 5, two days before her parents were to lead a massive demonstration in support of the victim’s cause. “Our teams are still working for Rachna’s safe return,” the SP added.Not ready to buy police claims, the Rai couple associated with Centre for Environment and Rural Development along with other social groups, including NAPM and Gudia, are continuing with the relay hunger strike, seeking justice for the victim and Rachna.“Rasool’s arrest is nothing but a drama staged by the police in collusion with the exporter’s counsels to ensure that he along with the other accused (his wife and three sons) gets bail,” V K Rai said.“If the police are so serious, why are they not providing any security to the victim and her three-year-old son Munna? Cases should be registered against Rasool and his family for trafficking of women and child abuse,” he added.The case came to light on January 8 when the Dalit girl submitted an application, narrating the entire episode to DIG (Vindhya range) S N Sabat during the Tehsil Diwas programme at Bhadohi.Three days ago, the victim had told The Indian Express that she was being sexually exploited by Rasool since she was 12. She alleged Rasool had forced her to undergo abortion at least four times at a Varanasi private hospital, besides sexually exploiting her at Bhadohi, and hotels and flats in Varanasi, New Delhi and Lucknow.
