3 minor girls allege rape, forced marriage and religious conversion in Madhya Pradesh

ASHOKNAGAR: Madhya Pradesh Police have registered a case following a complaint alleging rape and forced religious conversion of three minor girls in Ashoknagar district, an officer said on Friday.A woman, accompanied by her minor daughter and two of her daughter’s minor friends, approached the Piprai police station in the district and lodged a complaint in this regard. Acting on it, police registered a case under relevant sections and launched efforts to arrest the accused. Sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP), Vivek Sharma said, "A mother along with her minor daughter and two of her daughter's minor friends reached Piprai police station, where she told that her minor daughter used to stay at her maternal uncle's house in Mandideep (located in Raisen district, nearly 25 km away from Bhopal) and would also visit her home.

On April 14, when the girl came here with her two friends, she was wearing a burqa.

When inquired about it, she said that Altamash Khan, a resident of Bhopal, had raped her about 4 months ago, converted her religion and married her. Similarly, Altamash's two friends, Aahan Khan and Aahat Sheikh, had done the same with her two friends, who are also minors, and they too were converted and raped." "Based on the statement of the woman, a case has been filed in this regard at Piprai police station, including charges under the SC/ST Act, rape, and Madhya Pradesh freedom of religion act. Acting promptly into the matter, police and technical teams have been dispatched to arrest the accused. Action will be taken as soon as possible," the officer said. He further said that the statements of the victims were being recorded and strict action would be taken against those found involved in the matter based on the evidence.(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect their privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)(With agency inputs)