In Belagavi, an FIR has been lodged against a pair and five additional individuals for purportedly coercing a 28-year-old woman into adopting Islam by leveraging her private photographs, authorities disclosed. The accused parties, known as Rafik and his spouse, engaged in intimate interactions with her. Subsequently, he captured close-up images of her, which he utilized to pressure her into embracing Islam, law enforcement officials indicated.
Authorities explained that all three individuals were cohabiting, and in the year 2023, Rafik, her spouse, sexually assaulted her and demanded her conversion to Islam. Additionally, he insisted that she don a burqa instead of “kumkum,” as per her grievance. “During April 2024, they compelled the woman to engage in namaz five times a day, don a burqa, and abstain from applying kumkum,” noted Superintendent of Police (SP) Belagavi, Bheemashankar S Guled.
The accused party, Rafik, instructed her to divorce her husband and reside with them by adopting Islam; otherwise, he threatened to disclose her private images, law enforcement officials stated. An FIR has been filed against seven individuals in Saundatti following the woman’s allegations. They are confronted with charges under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, pertinent clauses of the IT legislation, the SC/ST Act, and the Indian Penal Code, including those for sexual assault, abduction, unlawful detention, and criminal coercion, according to authorities. Ongoing inquiries are in progress.
In the city of Belagavi, a formal complaint has been lodged against a duo and an additional five persons for allegedly compelling a 28-year-old woman to embrace Islam, leveraging her private images, as revealed by the authorities. The suspects, recognized as Rafik and his partner, were involved in intimate relations with her. Afterwards, Rafik, her partner, photographed her intimately, which he leveraged to coerce her into accepting Islam, according to police sources.
Authorities elaborated that all three of them were residing together, and in 2023, Rafik, her partner, sexually violated her and demanded her conversion to Islam. Furthermore, he insisted that she abandon “kumkum” and instead adopt a burqa, in line with her grievance. “During the month of April in the year 2024, they compelled the woman to engage in namaz five times daily, don a burqa, and refrain from using kumkum,” stated Superintendent of Police (SP) Belagavi, Bheemashankar S Guled.
Rafik, the accused party, directed her to sever ties with her spouse and join them by embracing Islam; otherwise, he threatened to expose her intimate images, according to law enforcement. An FIR has been registered against seven persons in Saundatti following the woman’s complaints. They are facing charges under the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, relevant sections of the IT law, the SC/ST Act, and the Indian Penal Code, including those related to sexual assault, abduction, wrongful confinement, and criminal coercion, as per law enforcement. Investigations are currently ongoing.