Gujarat: Pregnant Woman Alleges Repeated Rape, Forced Religious Conversion

A 30-year-old pregnant woman in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district has accused four men, including three brothers and their uncle, of repeatedly raping her, physically assaulting her and forcing her to convert to Islam, police said.

Based on her complaint, Dhanera police registered a case on August 20 against Akhtar Rajabshah Fakir, his brothers Arif Rajabshah Fakir and Iliyas Rajabshah Fakir, and their uncle Salimshah Jumashah Fakir. Police said no arrests have been made so far and an investigation is underway.

According to the FIR, the woman, who was five months pregnant, was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assault and abuse last month. She said Akhtar, who was acquainted with her estranged husband, initially became close to her after claiming that his grandfather could provide tantric remedies for her health problems.

The woman had earlier filed a sexual assault case against Akhtar and two others at Palanpur East police station in April, following which they were arrested. She later alleged that Arif and Iliyas, who were absconding in that case, threatened to kill her and abduct her daughters, forcing her to approach the Gujarat High Court for a compromise.

After the accused were released on June 16, the woman and Akhtar moved to Pengiya village, hoping to live peacefully. However, she alleged that Akhtar continued to assault her despite her pregnancy and pressured her to contact other men. When she refused, the accused allegedly blackmailed her using a private video and threatened to circulate it on social media.

She further alleged that the four men repeatedly raped her and forced her to undergo religious conversion. A cleric was allegedly brought for a nikah ceremony, during which she claimed she was given a spiked drink and her name was changed to “Fiza”.

The woman also alleged that the accused threatened to forcibly convert her daughters. On July 21, they allegedly assaulted her and threw her out of the house.

Police have booked the accused under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act.