Fact Check: Were Four Men Hanged Over India’s Child Rape Case?

Fact Check: Were Four Men Hanged Over India’s Child Rape Case?

Fact Check – A recent video shared on X [archive] and Facebook suggests that a 13-year-old girl endured rape by 32 men across five days in India. The footage claims four individuals were executed by hanging using a bulldozer. However, Tempo’s investigation challenges this narrative.

The video depicts a crowd cheering as four figures draped in white cloth sway in the air from the bulldozer blade. It also features a girl in a pink dress, labeled as the alleged victim. Yet, Tempo’s verification reveals the video does not depict actual executions. The legal process for the case remains active, and the girl’s photo is not linked to the incident in question.

Chronology of Sexual Violence Case

According to a report by India Today, a 13-year-old girl was allegedly sexually assaulted by more than 30 men over five days in several hotels within Sri Ganganagar, Rajasthan. The police report states the victim fled home and was sold to a hotel owner by an auto-rickshaw driver. She was taken to Joy Inn Hotel at around 10:30 p.m. local time, where she was subjected to repeated abuse.

“The girl was forced to consume alcohol whenever she experienced pain from the rapes,” explained Kailashdan Detha, an investigator from the Women Abuse Unit. “She was then relocated to multiple hotels and endured ongoing sexual exploitation.”

The police discovered the victim at the Joy Inn Hotel on June 22, 2026, following a missing person report from her family. By July 11, 2026, 21 suspects had been arrested. A hotel suspected of involvement was sealed, and its staff were questioned.

Victim Still Alive

The girl in the pink dress featured in the video was confirmed not to be the actual victim of the sexual assault in Sri Ganganagar. The photo, previously uploaded by @ek_bihari_shab_par_bhari and @dollychauhan170 on July 7, 2026, includes a Hindi caption stating her death date: “Swargiya Kumari Anshu Baghel, Punyathithi: 24.05.2026.” However, the incident in question occurred between June 18 and 23, 2026, and the victim is still alive.

“The rape victim is currently in the care of her family,” stated Deputy Superintendent of Police Kailash Dan. “The girl in the photo is not the one involved in the case.”

Sri Ganganagar police also clarified that the viral videos and photos were unrelated to the ongoing investigation. The Ganganagar Police’s official account @agnpolice confirmed the materials were part of a staged performance by local residents.

Public Outrage and Response

The case ignited widespread anger in Sri Ganganagar, prompting a demonstration by the District Congress Committee outside the Ganganagar Traders Association Building. Protesters demanded stricter action against the perpetrators. Rupinder Singh Kunnar, the District Congress President and Srikapur legislator, participated in the rally.

Tempo’s fact-checking concluded that the claim of four men being hanged for the child rape case is unfounded. The video’s portrayal of executions was found to be a fabrication.

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