Threat to embrace Islam; youth sexually abuses woman in front of his wife, removes Kumkum, forces to wear burqa

BENGALURU: A case has been registered against seven people including a couple for forcing a 28-year-old married woman to embrace Islam. The woman of Hindu religion approached the Karnataka police with a complaint. Her complaint said that one from the team sexually abused her in front of his wife. The complaint alleged that he tried to remove the kumkum from her forehead and forced her to wear a burqa.

The police said one of the accused Rafeeq and his wife cheated the woman and forced her to have sex with him. Rafeeq captured her nude pictures of the woman at this time. The couple threatened to release these pictures if she fails to embrace Islam. The complaint also said that Rafeeq told her to divorce her husband and threatened to release the pics if she ignores their demands. She also said that they threatened to harm her if she refuses to embrace Islam.

The woman also alleged that she faced caste-based abuses as she belongs to the backward caste. Police said the couple had been after the woman since 2023, forcing her to relocate to their house in Belagavi and asked her to follow their orders. The woman also said that Rafeeq abused her last year when he was with his wife.

The police have filed FIR against seven people on the woman's complaint. They have been charged under various laws including the Protection of Religious Freedom Act, relevant sections of the IT Act, the SC/ST Act and the IPC section. The accused have also been charged with rape, kidnapping, wrongful imprisonment and intimidation.