In a disturbing incident unfolding in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, a harrowing case of coercion, blackmail, and religious intimidation has come to light. The victim, a 27-year-old Hindu woman from Taraganj, has accused Islamist Sabir Khan, a married man from her locality, of subjecting her to over three years of captivity, physical and sexual assault, and relentless pressure to convert to Islam. According to reports from OpIndia, Sabir Khan allegedly initiated contact with the victim in October 2021, initially establishing a friendship which later turned coercive and traumatic for the victim.
The accused Islamist perpetrator purportedly resorted to threats of implicating the victim’s family in a suicide note and physical harm if she resisted his advances or attempted to leave. The victim further alleges that Sabir Khan, along with his family members, forcibly confined her, subjected her to sexual harassment, and demanded her conversion to Islam. Additionally, she claims to have been coerced into consuming beef against her religious beliefs.
According to reports from Republic World, Khan forcefully took the victim to the Ramaji culvert (Puliya) in Bahodapur, where he subjected her to sexual harassment. Subsequently, he confined the girl to his residence, threatening suicide if she attempted to leave, thereby preventing her from returning home. Allegedly, he exerted daily pressure on her to convert to Islam, resorting to physical violence when she refused, and even withholding food from her.
The victim detailed Sabir’s egregious behavior towards her, including engaging in unnatural acts on multiple occasions. She recounted Sabir’s persistent demands for her conversion to Islam, asserting that he insisted, “If you remain with me, you must embrace Islam.” Furthermore, she described being coerced into consuming beef against her will. She also mentioned in her complaint that Sabir’s father, Yusuf Khan, and brother, Sameer Khan, were complicit in subjecting her to physical abuse.
The ordeal reached a terrifying crescendo when Sabir Khan’s father, brother, wife, and mother reportedly assaulted the victim, with the timely intervention of a landlord preventing further harm. Prompted by the relentless torment, the victim sought assistance from the Bajrang Dal, leading to the filing of a case against the accused Islamist at the Bahodapur police station on April 26, 2024. As the investigation unfolds, authorities are actively pursuing the accused, who are currently absconding.
According to reports, the victim had previously visited the police station the day before, but she left due to the absence of female staff members at that time. Jitendra Singh Tomrakh, the in-charge of Bahodapur Police Station, disclosed that a case involving the rape of a girl from Taraganj has surfaced. The perpetrator allegedly coerced her into religious conversion, held her captive, and subjected her to assault. An FIR has been lodged, and efforts to apprehend the accused are underway.
In response to the gravity of the situation, demands for stringent legal action, including capital punishment and demolition of the accused’s residence, have been voiced by members of the Hindu Jagran Manch. Instances of Islamist tactics manipulation and assault persist in India, as recent cases across the country underscore the gravity of the issue of religious conversion blackmail and sexual assault. While Hindu organizations have consistently worked to rescue victims promptly, Hindu girls continue to fall prey to Islamist predators.
