Minor Girl Was Raped, Killed and Burned in Illegal Kiln in Aug 2023
Haridev Bairwa
Bhilwara Patwar Sangh submits a memorandum to Shahpura SDM
Bhilwara Patwar Sangh submits a memorandum to Shahpura SDM
Bhilwara: Nearly three years after the Kotdi rape and murder case that shook Bhilwara ahead of the 2023 Rajasthan Assembly elections, the matter has returned to focus following disciplinary action by the district administration.Bhilwara District Collector Jasmeet Singh Sandhu has ordered the dismissal of Haridev Bairwa, the patwari (land records officer) who was posted in the Giradiya patwar circle of Shahpura tehsil at the time of the crime.On Monday evening, the Patwar Union led protests across Bhilwara district, including at the district headquarters and various sub-divisional locations, demanding a reconsideration of the district collector’s decision. If the administration fails to reverse the decision, it could lead to an indefinite strike beginning Wednesday, which would disrupt revenue services and cause significant public inconvenience, the union said. The Karmachari Adhikari Vikas Sansthan has also announced support for the dismissed patwari.The case, locally known as the ‘Kotdi kiln case’, dates to Aug 2, 2023, when a minor girl in the Kotdi police station area was allegedly raped and killed, her body mutilated with a sharp weapon and then disposed of by burning in an illegal kiln. The incident sparked widespread protests, including sit-ins and demonstrations by BJP members, social organisations and villagers demanding justice and accountability.Bairwa, accused of allowing illegal kilns to operate in his jurisdiction area, has challenged the dismissal in a video posted on social media. He said senior administrative officers visited the site immediately after the crime and that encroachments linked to the illegal kilns were removed later. He claimed he submitted an encroachment report under Section 91 by Aug 14, 2023, and alleged that earlier inquiries at the tehsil and subdivision levels found him not at fault. He said he was dismissed without sufficient grounds and that his health deteriorated after he learnt of the order on July 23.The dismissal has prompted strong opposition from the Rajasthan Kanungo and Patwar Sangh, which has accused the district administration of acting unilaterally and announced districtwide protests.
