In a harrowing incident that has stirred widespread outrage, a case of love jihad and gang rape has surfaced in the town of Chirawa in the Jhunjhunun district of Rajasthan. The victim, hailing from the Mandrella police station area of Jhunjhunu, was allegedly abducted and transported to Hisar in Haryana, where she was subjected to repeated sexual assaults over several days.
The accused have been identified as Imran, his brother Anwar, and a cleric (Maulvi), among others. Imran purportedly forcibly married the victim in Hisar and held her captive, where she endured horrifying acts of violence.
A case has been lodged against Imran, Anwar, and the cleric at the Mandrella police station. An investigation into the matter has been initiated, with the victim’s statement recorded at the Chirawa court on March 28, as per reports from Zee Rajasthan.
According to available information, the victim was engaged in selling products online for a company and maintained an Instagram account for the same purpose. The registered First Information Report (FIR) suggests that Imran initiated contact with her on the social media platform, initially under a Hindu alias. However, the conversation quickly turned sinister, with Imran sending explicit photographs and videos to the victim.
Under duress, Imran coerced the victim into sending nude images and explicit videos, threatening to tarnish her reputation within the Mandrella community if she refused. On March 12, Imran, accompanied by Anwar and a cleric, allegedly abducted the victim at gunpoint from her locality, rendering her unconscious before spiriting her away to an undisclosed location.
Subsequently, Imran purportedly married the victim in a Hindu ceremony conducted at an undisclosed venue while she remained incapacitated. Following the forced marriage, the victim was allegedly held captive and subjected to regular sexual assaults by Imran and several accomplices.
On March 16, seizing an opportunity, the victim managed to escape her captors and promptly alerted her family members. They, along with law enforcement officials, rushed to Hisar and successfully located her.
Meanwhile, demands for stringent punishment against the perpetrators have been voiced by various quarters.
Advocate Vinod Verma, along with Bharatiya Janata Party leaders Ishan Mishra and Ashok Sharma, among others, have called for swift justice. Mishra further emphasised the need for an inquiry into the Mandrella region, citing concerns over the prevalence of active gangs involved in love jihad and religious conversions.
As investigations unfold, the case has reignited debates over the safety and security of women and religious conversions, prompting calls for urgent action to address such heinous crimes.
