Another case of a failed interfaith marriage leaving the Hindu partner deceived and abandoned has surfaced in Uttarakhand’s Udham Singh Nagar district. This incident is being linked to what is commonly referred to as “Love Jihad,” where the accused, Jabir, allegedly posed as “Suraj” to deceive the woman.
According to the victim, Premlata Devi, the accused manipulated her into leaving her family and marrying him. After six years of marriage, marked by alleged torture and abuse, she has been abandoned along with her son.
An FIR (No. 490/2024) was registered at Kichha Police Station in Udham Singh Nagar on December 31. The victim, Premlata Devi, a Scheduled Caste woman from Gaughat, Katharra, detailed how Jabir’s deceitful actions led to her financial, emotional, and social exploitation.
What says the FIR?
In her complaint to the police, Premlata Devi has accused her husband, Jabir Ali, of deceit, blackmail, and abuse in a relationship that began under false pretences. Premlata stated that she was married to Jabir Ali, son of late Akbar Shah, six years ago in Jahanabad, Uttar Pradesh, following Muslim customs.
Premlata alleged that Jabir initially presented himself as “Suraj” to gain her trust. “He pretended to be in love with me and even made an obscene video, which he used to blackmail me,” she said. Under duress, she was taken to Jabir’s elder sister’s house in Jahanabad, where she was forced into nikah (marriage). “When I refused, Jabir and his brothers—Abbas Ali, Riyasat, Zakir, and Shakir—threatened to make the video viral and kill me,” Premlata stated.
She also revealed that Jabir’s real identity came to light only after their Nikah, which was too late at the time. “He started beating me, threatened to kill me, and pressured me to convert to Islam. When I refused, the torture escalated,” she claimed.
Premlata alleged that at the time of marriage, she brought valuables, including a gold neckchain, earrings, a laptop, and Rs 1,00,000 in cash, which were eventually exhausted by her husband and his family. “They kept me well for some time, but after my property was completely spent, they began harassing me for dowry,” she said.
She further claimed that Jabir and his family eventually threw her and her six-year-old son, Mohammad Ezan, out of their home. “They don’t provide any financial support, and I have no one else to turn to,” she added.
Based on her complaint, the police have registered a case against Jabir Ali and his brothers—Abbas Ali, Riyasat, Zakir, and Shakir. They have been booked under sections 3 and 4 of the Dowry Prevention Act, 1961, as well as sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 498-A (cruelty by husband or relatives), and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.
What the victim told Organiser?
In an exclusive conversation with Organiser on January 2, Premlata Devi shared disturbing details about her ordeal with Jabir Ali.
“Jabir is a fakeer and does ‘Jhaad Phook.’ While posing as Suraj, he hypnotised me, did jaadu-tona and manipulated me to the extent that I couldn’t think straight. Everything he said or did seemed right to me at the time,” she revealed.
According to Premlata, Jabir trapped her emotionally and financially, forcing her into an Islamic marriage after she became pregnant with their child. “I never changed my name or religion and continued following Hindu practices like fasting during Navratri, performing Durga Saptashati path, and organizing Kanya Bhoj. But after nikah, Jabir threw away all my idols and religious books,” she said.
She further disclosed that it was only after the nikah and the birth of their son, Izan, that she discovered Jabir was already married and had children. “He did all this to trap me for my money, jewellery, and possessions,” she said.
Isolated from her family, Premlata endured years of torture. “He never treated me well. I was called a ‘Kaffir’ by him and his family and abused for my caste. Eventually, he abandoned me, saying, ‘I have done my job; now you are of no use to me,'” she recounted.
Premlata also revealed that her son, Izan, was circumcised soon after birth at a time when she felt powerless to resist. Over the years, under rising pressure and torture, she recited the kalma, began offering namaz, and adopted a Muslim lifestyle. “But even that didn’t suffice—everything changed once the money was gone,” she added.
She disclosed that Jabir has promised to name a plot in her son’s favour within two months. “If he doesn’t fulfil this promise, I will fight a legal battle,” she asserted. Right now she lives alone in a rented place. She claims the panchayat and sarpanch Tausif have ganged up against her, and if anything happens to her, only they will be responsible for it.
Notably, the police have not invoked provisions of the Uttarakhand Freedom of Religion Act or the Prevention of Atrocities Act, despite the serious allegations made by the victim.
Organiser attempted to contact the police for clarification, but calls to the Investigating Officer went unanswered. This report will be updated as soon as further information is available.
(Organiser recently compiled a list of 200 cases of ‘Love Jihad’ reported in 2024, readers can go through the report here.)
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