Bareilly: A shocking case of Love Jihad has come to light from Faridpur in Bareilly district of Uttar Pradesh, where an Islamist used a fake Hindu identity to lure a Dalit student and later raped her in a hotel room. The accused, identified as Asif Qureshi, reportedly posed as “Ashish” to develop a relationship with the victim, eventually taking her to a hotel where the crime was committed. Upon discovering his true identity, the victim immediately informed her family and filed a police complaint. The police have arrested the accused and initiated a detailed investigation into this Love Jihad case.
The victim, a first-year Bachelor of Arts (BA) student at the Government College in Faridpur, regularly encountered the accused while commuting to college. Asif allegedly introduced himself as “Ashish” and gradually built trust with the victim. Over time, he reportedly promised marriage, further strengthening her confidence in him.
On April 3, Asif took the victim to a hotel in Navadia Ashok village, situated along the highway, where he allegedly raped her. During the ordeal, the victim realized the accused’s real name and religion. Shocked and distressed, she immediately informed her family about the incident. The family, in turn, approached the police and lodged an official complaint. The police have classified the crime as a clear case of Love Jihad and have launched a detailed probe.
Following the FIR, the police acted swiftly and arrested the accused, who resides in Linepar Mathia. Forensic experts were called to the crime scene to gather crucial evidence, and the victim was sent for medical examination.
While speaking to The Organiser, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Ashutosh Shivam of Faridpur confirmed that the alleged culprit in the Love Jihad case was promptly arrested by the police after lodging the First Information Report (FIR) under Sec 69 and 87 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Sec 3(2)(V) of the SC/ST Act. The medical examination of the victim has also been completed. Today, the named person in the FIR has been produced before the Court to record their statement.
Investigations revealed that the accused booked the hotel room using an Aadhaar card under the name “Ashish.” The police recovered this forged Aadhaar card from the hotel. Further inquiries confirmed that Asif is a law student currently training at a local tehsil. His alleged crime has sparked outrage among legal professionals, who have demanded strict action against him.
A group of lawyers also visited the police station, urging authorities to impose stringent legal measures. In addition, women’s rights activists, particularly from the ‘Veerangana Vahini’ organisation led by Manju Singh, have protested, demanding justice for the victim and severe punishment for the accused involved in Love Jihad.
The police have registered a case against Asif Qureshi under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The sections invoked include:
Section 69 of BNS: This section deals with sexual intercourse obtained through deceitful means or false promises of marriage without the intention of fulfilling them. The punishment under this section can extend up to 10 years in prison along with a fine. The law explicitly includes cases where an individual suppresses their identity to deceive a woman into a relationship, a tactic commonly seen in Love Jihad cases.
Section 87 of BNS: This provision penalizes those who kidnap, abduct, or induce a woman into marriage against her will or force her into illicit intercourse. The law prescribes imprisonment of up to 10 years along with a fine for such offenses. Cases of Love Jihad often involve such deceitful means to trap victims.
Section 3(2)(v) of the SC/ST Act: This section applies when an offense punishable by 10 years or more is committed against a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe member with the knowledge of their caste identity. The accused, if found guilty under this provision, faces life imprisonment and a fine.
The police confirmed that the forged Aadhaar card used by the accused has been seized. Consequently, an additional charge related to the fabrication and misuse of official documents has been added to the FIR. The police are further investigating the origin of this fake document and whether the accused had used similar tactics in past Love Jihad cases.
On April 4, Asif Qureshi was presented before the court for the recording of his statement. Law enforcement agencies are also exploring any potential accomplices who may have facilitated his fraudulent identity creation, which is a key characteristic of Love Jihad crimes.
