Four Booked for Rape, Assault and Forced Religious Conversion of Pregnant Hindu Woman in Banaskantha

Palanpur: A 30-year-old pregnant Hindu woman has accused three brothers and their uncle of repeatedly raping and assaulting her, blackmailing her with a private video and pressuring her to convert to Islam.

Dhanera police registered a case on August 20 against Akhtar Rajabshah Fakir, his brothers Arif and Iliyas Rajabshah Fakir, and their uncle Salimshah Jumashah Fakir based on her complaint.

“We have started further investigation. No one has been arrested yet,” said inspector SD Chaudhary.

According to the FIR, the woman, who was five months pregnant, was allegedly sexually assaulted and beaten repeatedly last month. She alleged that Akhtar, who knew her estranged husband, initially approached her claiming his grandfather could provide “tantric” remedies for her health problems.

Police said she had earlier filed a sexual assault complaint against Akhtar and his relatives in April, leading to the arrest of Akhtar and two others. She alleged that Arif and Iliyas, who were absconding, later threatened to kill her and abduct her daughters. She was subsequently pressured to file an affidavit before the Gujarat High Court to settle the matter, the FIR stated.

After the accused were released from jail on June 16, the woman and Akhtar moved to Pengiya village in Dhanera taluka. However, she alleged that Akhtar continued to assault her despite knowing she was pregnant and pressured her to speak to other men over the phone.

When she refused, Akhtar and his relatives allegedly blackmailed her with a secretly recorded private video and threatened to circulate it on social media. She further alleged that the three brothers and their uncle repeatedly raped her.

The woman also alleged that the accused forced her to convert to Islam. According to the FIR, a local cleric was brought to conduct a “nikah”, during which she was allegedly given a spiked drink and her name was changed to “Fiza”. She also alleged that the accused threatened to forcibly convert her daughters.

On July 21, the four accused allegedly assaulted her and threw her out of the house, refusing to take responsibility for her or her unborn child.

She then sought help from a shopkeeper and contacted the 181 women’s helpline before moving to Lakhani with her mother’s support.

The accused have been booked for rape, assault and criminal intimidation under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, police said. DeshGujarat