NGO director held for concocting story

Varanasi, June 18 (UNI) The District Police arrested the director of a local NGO from Sigra area here this evening for allegedly concocting a story of teenaged daughters of debtridden Muslim weavers being sexually exploited by money lenders of the city.

Senior Police Superintendent Ashutosh Pandey told newspersons here that Rajiv Srivastava, director of Vishal Bharat Sansthan (VBS), was held from Sigra area here.

The SSP further claimed that Dr Srivastava, allegedly for publicity, had concocted a story in the local media about two teenaged daughters, Nurunisa and Fatima, of debtridden Muslim weavers in Lohta and Bajardiha area here being ''mortgaged'' with money lenders following inability of their parents to settle the loans.

Mr Srivastava had also alleged in the media, that both the teenagers were being ''sexuially exploited'' by money lenders of Madanpura area and even provided pictures to media.

A probe was ordered, following which it was found that there was no one named Nurunisa in the family of Lohta, while Fatima in Bajardiha area was economically sound.

A probe into the working of his organisation has also been ordered, the SSP added.

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