Technology put to heinous use; Man from Bhopal raped 7 students

In a shocking case from Bhopal, Brajesh Kushwaha, an illiterate former mill worker, used a voice-changing app to pose as a female professor and lure tribal college students from Madhya Pradesh’s Sidhi district with false promises of scholarships. Impersonating a woman, Kushwaha convinced the students to meet in isolated areas under the guise of facilitating scholarship opportunities. Once there, he would show up, take them to a forested area, and sexually assault them. Kushwaha managed to assault at least seven students this way. The investigation revealed that Kushwaha would wear a helmet and gloves, making identification difficult. His burnt hands, a result of his previous job at a rolling mill in Maharashtra, were a crucial clue. This detail eventually led the police to him. Kushwaha and three accomplices were arrested on Saturday. Following his arrest, the Sidhi district administration demolished his house.

Inspector General of Police Mahendra Sikarwar stated that the breakthrough came when a woman reported being raped after being lured with the promise of a scholarship. The investigation identified Kushwaha, who admitted using a voice-changing app on his phone to deceive his victims. The gloves he wore during the assaults were a consistent detail that helped police identify him. Despite being illiterate, Kushwaha’s knowledge of technology was pivotal in his crimes. He learned to use the voice-changing app and extract phone contact numbers to find potential victims. This case has prompted the cyber cell to issue an advisory warning about the misuse of such apps. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav has responded to the severity of the case by forming a nine-member special investigation team to probe further. The team, led by a woman deputy superintendent of police, will investigate whether there are additional victims and ensure comprehensive scrutiny of Kushwaha’s activities.

[Image Source: NDTV]