In a shocking incident, a 27-year-old Hindu woman from Lucknow has come forward with allegations of rape under the false pretence of marriage and forced conversion to Islam. The accused, identified as Afifullah, a resident of Rampur, stands accused of preventing the victim from practising Hindu rituals and subjecting her to assault when she resisted conversion.
The victim lodged a formal complaint in Lucknow on January 9, 2024. However, as the case is linked to Noida, the jurisdiction will be transferred to the authorities there. The young woman, employed by a private company in Noida, met the accused who, under the guise of friendship, promised her marriage.
According to the victim’s account, Afifullah gained her trust and allegedly sexually violated her at a hotel. Marriage was brought up as a means to silence her protests, and subsequent incidents involved multiple hotel visits where physical relationships were established. When the victim pressed for marriage, Afifullah reportedly refused.
The woman disclosed that the accused introduced her to his sisters, Ursa and Hamna, and initially vowed to marry her before them. However, he later began pressuring her to convert to Islam for marriage. The victim claimed that Afifullah took her to a cleric with the same agenda, who insisted on her embracing Islam. Additionally, she revealed that he would take her to Islamic events and provide literature about his religion.
Allegedly, Afifullah opposed the victim’s Hindu prayers, citing religious reasons for his refusal to marry a non-Muslim. When she resisted conversion, he, along with his sisters, reportedly subjected her to physical assault.
Inspector Akhilesh Kumar of the Lucknow police station confirmed the filing of a case against the accused in response to the victim’s allegations. The Noida police will take over the investigation due to the incident occurring in their jurisdiction. The case is expected to be swiftly transferred to Noida for further examination.
