In the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, an Islamic organization known as ‘Adam Sena’ is purportedly causing distress among the female members of the Islamic community, claiming to act in the name of Sharia law. Based on the reports from Jagran, it appears that some Islamist youths associated with Adam Sena are imposing their interpretation of Sharia law on Islamic women, leading to concerns of harassment and intimidation within the community.

It is alleged that members of Adam Sena are reportedly entering the homes of Muslim families and coercing women to adhere to their interpretation of Sharia law. Women are allegedly being instructed to wear burqas and refrain from interacting with individuals from other communities. Non-compliance with these directives reportedly results in severe consequences, including threats of expulsion from the village.

The issue came to light following a complaint lodged by a young woman, Nikhat Najma, from the Sikni village under the Dulmi police jurisdiction in Ramgarh district. Nikhat Najma alleged that she and her family were subjected to harassment and intimidation by individuals claiming affiliation with Adam Sena. Despite filing a complaint with local authorities, she expressed frustration over the lack of action taken against the Islamic organization.

Assault, coercion, and threat: Imposing Sharia law

Nikhat Najma recounted instances where members of Adam Sena forcibly entered her home, subjected her and her sister to harassment, alleging threats from Salman and Ahmed, purported leaders of Adam Sena. The victim recounted an alarming incident from December 2023, where Sabir Ali, a resident of the same village, attempted to sexually assault her. Despite managing to escape, she faced further aggression from Sabir Ali and his family when she called for help, resulting in a formal police complaint.

Based on OpIndia reports, the victim’s ordeal took a troubling turn on February 17, 2024, when she revisited the police station. In her latest complaint, she revealed that Islamist Sabir Ali, recently released on bail, alongside Salman and Ahmed, were pressuring her to withdraw her case. Their alleged intimidation tactics aimed to coerce her into retracting the charges. The victim alleges that individuals linked to Adam Sena threatened her and demanded a compromise in the case, with Ahmed Ansari resorting to verbal abuse over the phone.

Police inaction in the face of Islamist threats

Adam Sena’s imposition of Sharia law, mandating hijab and restricting freedom of expression has intensified the scenario, prompting the victim to threaten suicide if action against Adam Sena isn’t taken by the authorities. However, police claim that Adam Sena doesn’t exist, attributing the conflicts to land disputes and stating that no complaints against Adam Sena have been received, thus hesitating to take action against the Islamist perpetrators.