In a disturbing case that has come to light in Ratlam district, a 19-year-old woman has filed a police complaint accusing her brother’s friend of raping her when she was a minor three years ago, forcing an abortion, coercing her into a nikah and pressuring her to adopt Islam, and fathering her child amid repeated physical and verbal abuse.
The survivor, who studied up to Class 11, stated in her complaint that Sameer, son of Shehzad and a resident of Ram Rahim Nagar, frequently visited her house under the guise of friendship with her brother. Taking advantage of this acquaintance, Sameer lured her to his house in January 2023. There, he sexually assaulted her. When she became pregnant, Sameer gave her abortion pills and terminated the pregnancy. He also threatened her at knifepoint, warning that if she told anyone, he would kill both her and her brother.
Out of fear, the young woman remained silent and continued meeting Sameer under pressure. She alleged that Sameer promised marriage and pressured her to adopt Islam while continuing to sexually exploit her. As a result, she became pregnant again. Sameer then took her to an unknown place, threatened her and forced her to accept a nikah. The woman was still a minor at the time of the forced nikah.
After the nikah, Sameer took her to his house and barred her from meeting her family. Due to the continued sexual exploitation, she gave birth to a child who is now nine months old.
Following the birth, Sameer began assaulting her regularly. According to the complaint, he would taunt her saying, “There are many like you. If you do too much, I will kill you and throw you away.” As the harassment intensified, the woman gathered courage and informed her family. However, Sameer threatened her family as well, due to which they initially did not approach the police.
On June 8, Sameer assaulted the woman, causing injuries to her cheek and neck. She returned to her parents’ house. The same evening, he reached their house, created a ruckus and pelted stones. On June 10, while the woman was standing outside her house with her nine-month-old child, Sameer tried to snatch the baby. Local residents intervened and rescued the child. Later, he called the woman’s brother and threatened to stab him to death.
Fed up with the repeated threats and violence, the woman and her family finally approached the Deendayal Nagar police station and filed a formal complaint.
Police have registered a case against Sameer under the POCSO Act (as the victim was a minor during the initial incidents), sections related to rape and criminal intimidation, and relevant provisions of the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act concerning forced religious conversion. An investigation has been initiated. Sameer remains absconding and police are making efforts to trace and arrest him.
All details are based on the complaint filed by the 19-year-old survivor. The matter is under police investigation.
