UP minor alleges abduction, forced religious conversion attempt; main accused arrested

Kanpur, June 29 (IANS) A case has been registered in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur after a 17-year-old girl alleged that she was abducted, illegally confined and subjected to attempts at forced religious conversion.

Acting on a complaint lodged by her father, police have arrested the main accused, identified as Arman, while further investigation into the allegations is underway, officials said.

The incident was reported from the Rawatpur police station area, where the victim alleged that she had first come into contact with Arman at Kargil Park in the Motijheel area. According to her statement, the two had become acquainted before the alleged incident took place.

The girl alleged that Arman later asked her to meet him near the Namak Factory intersection. When she reached the location, she claimed that he, along with two associates, took her in a car to Motijheel before allegedly shifting her to a house located in a Muslim-majority locality, where she was kept against her will.

According to the complaint, the victim alleged that she was repeatedly pressured to recite the ‘Kalma’, the Islamic declaration of faith, as part of an attempt to force her to convert to Islam.

She further alleged that when she refused to comply, she was assaulted and branded with hot tongs. The girl also claimed that she was pressured to consume beef and was threatened with dire consequences if she continued to resist.

The victim alleged that she was forced to sign certain documents during her confinement. She further claimed that she was threatened with being sent to Saudi Arabia and that the accused also warned of causing harm to her entire family if she disclosed the incident.

Confirming the registration of the case, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Dilip Kumar Singh said the police received information regarding the incident on June 27 and initiated legal proceedings based on the complaint submitted by the victim’s family.

“On June 27, information was received under Rawatpur police station limits that a minor girl had been taken away by a person from another community and was being pressured to convert her religion. Several other allegations have been made. The family members have filed a complaint against the accused. Investigation is underway,” ACP Singh said.

Police said the main accused, Arman, has been taken into custody.

Officials added that all allegations made by the victim are being thoroughly examined as part of the investigation.

Police said statements are being recorded and other evidence is being collected to ascertain the sequence of events and verify the claims made in the complaint.

Further details are awaited.

–IANS

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