A woman from the Basti district of Uttar Pradesh has filed a police complaint alleging that Ahmed Raza, her family’s former driver, sexually assaulted her, coerced her into converting to Islam through a fraudulent marriage as a means of forced conversion to Islam, and subjected her to ongoing physical and mental abuse.
According to her statement, Raza, who worked at her residence within the Walterganj police station area, had been harassing her for several months. Fearful of social repercussions, she did not initially report the incidents. She alleges that in February 2024, Raza raped her at knifepoint. When she threatened to report the assault, he reportedly promised to marry her.
The woman further claims that after the purported marriage, Raza forced her to convert to Islam and subjected her to repeated physical and mental abuse. She also alleges that he coerced her into having three abortions without her consent, and that her life has become a “living nightmare.”
The victim’s family disapproved of her relationship with Ahmed Raza. Despite this, he persuaded her to leave her home with him. In addition to eloping, he allegedly took a significant amount of valuables from her family’s residence, including two gold necklaces, three gold chains, Rs 1 lakh in cash, a car, a scooter, a cooler, and a washing machine. He later sold or mortgaged these items.
Initially, Raza took her to stay with his relatives before moving her to a rented house in Puraena Chowk, within the Rudhauli police station area. Although he delayed the marriage, he eventually proceeded with it. However, the victim alleges that she was then subjected to a pattern of abuse.
According to the victim’s police complaint, shortly after the marriage, Ahmed Raza and his family began pressuring her to convert to Islam. She was allegedly coerced into performing Namaz, observing Roza (fasting), and consuming beef. She recounts an incident where his parents and sisters explicitly demanded she “Read Namaz, eat beef, and observe Roza in Ramzan.” Upon her refusal, Ahmed’s sisters reportedly subjected her to verbal and physical assault.
The woman further alleges that Ahmed Raza sold her jewellery, mortgaged her scooter, and gave the proceeds to his family. She claims that she was subjected to financial exploitation and communal insults targeting her Hindu faith and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
A particularly traumatic aspect of her account involves three forced abortions. She states that she became pregnant three times and was compelled to terminate each pregnancy. She is currently pregnant again but alleges that Ahmed Raza has absconded, leaving her without support.
She has filed a formal complaint at the Walterganj police station. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Satyendra Bhushan Tiwari has confirmed that a case has been registered and that police are actively searching for the accused.
Akhilesh Singh, the district president of the Vishva Hindu Mahasangh, visited the victim and issued a warning that if prompt action is not taken, the organisation will initiate a mass protest. He emphasised the broader societal implications of the case, stating, “This isn’t just one girl’s tragedy. Society must ask – how long will such exploitation of innocent lives continue unchecked?”
