An FIR has been filed against five members of a family on charges of sexual harassment and causing hurt to a Nepali woman and forcing her into marriage at Puranpur police station of Pilibhit district in Uttar Pradesh.
According to reports, the 26-year-old woman was brought to India from Nepal 13 years ago under false pretenses of finding employment and was subsequently forced into marriage and converted to the accused’s religion.
The woman recently shared her ordeal at a local meeting organised against religious conversion by Hindu organisations.
The 26-year-old described how the accused befriended her while concealing his identity and lured her to India with promises of employment. Once in India, she was subjected to repeated sexual assault and threats.
The case was registered based on a complaint filed by the victim late on Monday evening, as per the report.
According to PTI, the accused, including three brothers, their mother and a maternal uncle, have been charged under various sections of the Bhartiya Naya Sanhita (BNS), including 352 (intentionally insults), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 115(2) punishment for voluntarily causing hurt and 76 (use criminal force against a woman with the intent of disrobing her modesty).
The Crime Inspector at Puranpur Police Station Gajendra Singh said the victim has alleged that she was forced to marry, and was physically and mentally harassed by her in-laws.
The police are currently investigating the matter to gather further evidence and ensure justice for the victim.
Last month in a separate incident, sixteen people were arrested after a video of a woman being harassed on a flooded road in Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow went viral on the internet. Following the incident, the government transferred three senior police officers and suspended five police personnel, including a Station House Officer.
The incident took place in Gomtinagar where heavy rainfall has resulted in waterlogging in some areas, leading to a disturbing incident.