Accused Sameer Qureshi (Left), victim Sonia (Center) and victim's brother Ayush (Right) (Organiser)
On November 30, the Uttar Pradesh police successfully located and recovered 18-year-old Sonia Rajput, a Hindu girl who had allegedly eloped with Sameer Qureshi. Sonia had gone missing on November 21 from Hapur district, prompting her family to launch a search and file a complaint against Qureshi for abduction.
Following the filing of the complaint, Sonia’s family faced threats and intimidation from the accused side, including the pouring of black ink on a poster featuring Sonia’s only brother, who also received death threats from unidentified individuals. Despite these challenges, Sonia has been safely recovered, and she is scheduled to appear before the magistrate on December 1.
Sonia’s sister, Shalu Rajput, lodged a First Information Report (FIR number: 827/2023) at the Hapur Nagar police station on November 22. In her complaint, Shalu informed the police that Sonia went missing on November 21 after failing to return from a coaching center, and she accused Sameer Qureshi of manipulating and taking her sister away.
Based on her complaint, the police booked Qureshi under IPC Section 366 (Kidnapping).
On December 1, this reporter contacted Senior House Officer (SHO) Neeraj Kumar of Hapur Nagar police station, who confirmed that Sonia had been successfully recovered by the police during the night between November 30 and December 1. Following her recovery, she underwent medical tests, and it is anticipated that she will provide her statement under section 164 of the CrPC before the magistrate.
When inquired about Qureshi, SHO Neeraj Kumar mentioned that the police is actively searching for him, as he is currently evading authorities.
On November 29, Organiser contacted Shalu, the eldest among her four siblings, at a time when Sonia had not yet been located. Shalu expressed her concern about her youngest sister being manipulated and taken away by Qureshi, especially given their father’s passing several years ago. During this conversation, Shalu shared her sorrow and shared a poster of her brother Ayush with this correspondent, revealing the damage done to it outside Sonia’s free tuition class.
Shalu disclosed that they had been receiving threats from the accused party ever since they filed the FIR. Ayush takes care of the family, and Shalu, in addition to her job, plays a role in looking after her siblings. Qureshi had been employed as a tailor near the coaching center Sonia used to attend, which is where they first encountered him.
Furthermore, Shalu mentioned that they had provided Sonia with a phone during the Covid-19 shutdown, as all school-related communication was conducted through WhatsApp during that period.
On December 1, this correspondent spoke with Ayush, who was waiting outside the police station while his sister was inside. He had recently conversed with her, expressing that her statement before the court would determine the course of events.
According to Ayush, his sister is currently asserting, “I will not convert to Islam to marry Sameer, and this relationship will only proceed if he returns to the Sanatan fold.”
Pressed for time, Ayush refrained from delving into the details of the threats but acknowledged that they were consistently facing pressure to withdraw the complaint.
Organiser will provide updates on further developments in this case. If we manage to connect with the victim, her statement will also be incorporated into this report.
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