Pregnant woman accuses 4 men of rape, forced conversion

Akhtarshah Fakir, the main accused in the Banaskantha rape and forced conversion case, has been arrested by Gujarat police.

Three other relatives of Akhtarshah Fakir – his brothers Arif and Iliyas, and uncle Salimshah Fakir – are still at large and efforts are on to apprehend them.

The 30-year-old pregnant woman alleged repeated rape, physical abuse, and forced religious conversion, including a 'nikah' ceremony where she was given a spiked drink.

The accused allegedly blackmailed the woman with a secretly recorded private video and threatened to make it viral on social media.

All accused face charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for rape, criminal intimidation, and assault, along with provisions of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act.

 

The main accused in a case related to allegations of repeated rape and forced religious conversion of a 30-year-old pregnant woman in Gujarat's Banaskantha district has been arrested, a police official said on August 24, Monday.

Efforts were on to nab three more individuals wanted in the case, all relatives of the main accused, Akhtarshah Fakir, he said.

Details of the Arrest and Allegations : The deputy superintendent of police CL Solanki said Akhtarshah Fakir was arrested after a case was registered at the Dhanera police station on August 20 against him, his brothers Arif Rajabshah Fakir and Iliyas Rajabshah Fakir, and their uncle Salimshah Fakir.

"The main accused, Akhtarshah Fakir, has been arrested, while efforts were on to nab the other accused (his two brothers and uncle)," Solanki said.

The woman, in her complaint, has alleged the four accused repeatedly raped and physically abused her last month and forced her to convert to their religion.

According to the FIR, the woman, who was five months pregnant then, has alleged that Akhatarshah Fakir, who was known to her estranged husband, developed proximity with her after claiming his grandfather could provide "tantric" remedies for her health problems.

Previous Incidents and Blackmail : She first filed a case of sexual assault against Akhtarshah Fakir and his relatives at the Palanpur East police station in April.

Following the case, Akhatarshah Fakir and two others (both his cousins) were arrested, police had said.

The woman alleged that Arif and Iliyas Fakir, who were absconding in the case filed in April, threatened to kill her and kidnap her daughters, forcing her to file an affidavit before the Gujarat high court for a compromise.

After the accused (Akhatarshah Fakir and his cousins) were released from jail on June 16, the woman and Akhtarshah Fakir moved to a village in Dhanera taluka, hoping they would live peacefully, according to the FIR.

However, she alleged that Akhtarshah Fakir continued to sexually assault and beat her up despite pregnancy and pressured her to contact other men over the phone.

When she refused, Akhtarshah Fakir and his relatives allegedly used a secretly recorded private video to blackmail her and threatened to make it viral on social media, the FIR stated.

Forced Conversion and Abandonment : The three brothers and their uncle also repeatedly raped her, the woman alleged.

She further accused the four of forcing her to undergo religious conversion, alleging a local cleric was brought to perform a 'nikah' (Islamic wedding), where she was given a spiked drink and her name was changed.

On July 21, the four accused allegedly beat her up and threw the woman out of the house, refusing to accept responsibility for her or her unborn child, the FIR said.

All the accused have been booked for rape, criminal intimidation and assault under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, besides provisions of the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, the police added.