October 27, 2025

Bhopal’s Mauganj area saw a night full of tension and drama on Saturday! The calm shattered around 9 pm when Pankaj Soni, accused in a shocking gang rape case, suddenly grabbed the father of the minor survivor and whisked him away in an SUV. This furious act sent the villagers into a rage, leading them to block the highway for hours. The road was jammed tight as protests roared late into the night, demanding justice and safety. Senior police officers, including ASP Vikram Singh and SDOP Sachi Pathak, rushed to the spot with a strong police team. They tried hard to calm the angry crowd but the villagers stood their ground, refusing to open the road. The blockade stretched on until around 2:30 am, when officials promised strict action in the case, finally convincing the protesters to clear the path. This case dates back to August 15, 2025, when the minor was kidnapped and gang raped. Heroically, the young girl escaped after being held captive for a week. Initially, she named only one accused in her FIR. Later during her court statement, a second name was added - that of Pankaj Soni, who was absconding until now. Dilip Soni, Superintendent of Police, Mauganj, confirmed, “The kidnapped person was rescued and the accused was also held. It was one of the accused, Pankaj Soni, who abducted the father of the minor. The minor initially named only one accused; this person was later named while her statement was recorded before court. He was absconding till now.” This dramatic night shows how deeply the wounds from this case run in the village. The people’s fierce demand for justice keeps hope alive that action will be swift and strong from the police and court.

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Tags: Mauganj, Gang rape case, Abduction, Villagers protest, Police action, Rewa district,