Man arrested in UP for rape under false marriage promise and forced religion conversion

A man has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh's Pratapgarh district for allegedly raping a divorced woman under the false promise of marriage and pressuring her to convert her religion. The accused, identified as Gulfam Sheikh, was taken into custody by Kohandaur police following a complaint filed by the victim, who also accused his family members of harassing her.

According to police, the woman, originally from Raebareli, was living in a rented house in Kohandaur market after divorcing her first husband from the same area. She had previously converted her religion during her first marriage. The victim alleged that Gulfam Sheikh befriended her and promised to marry her, but instead sexually assaulted her, resulting in pregnancy. She further claimed that the accused and his family members then forced her to undergo an abortion and pressured her to convert her religion once again.

The complaint also includes serious allegations of theft and fraud. The woman stated that Gulfam seized her gold jewelry and cash. She additionally accused him of creating fake documents and fraudulently obtaining an Aadhaar card in someone else's name using her identity.

Following the woman's complaint, Kohandaur police registered a case against Gulfam Sheikh and arrested him. City Circle Officer Ashutosh Mishra confirmed that the accused was presented before a court, which remanded him to judicial custody and sent him to jail. Police have launched a detailed investigation into all aspects of the case, including the allegations of forced religious conversion, sexual assault, illegal abortion, theft, and document forgery. The case highlights ongoing concerns about crimes committed under false promises of marriage and coerced religious conversions in the region.