Love-Jihad Case: Wasim Akram became Vikas to trap Hindu woman, raped and forcefully converted to Islam

A Hindu woman has been robbed, raped and blackmailed by a Muslim man who pretends to be Hindu. The lady, accompanied by a few Hindu activists, approached the Munninager Police Station in Ujjain on Friday to lodge a complaint against Wasim Akram, accusing him of rape, torture and extortion under the pretext of love and marriage.

The woman said that Wasim Akram had concealed his identity and presented himself as Vikas Rajput, who had been trapping her two years earlier. He had claimed to marry her by having her wear a mangalsutra (a black beaded necklace worn by a Hindu woman to show that she was married) and formed a physical relationship with her. He also made corrupted images of her which he began to use to blackmail her.

The woman said that Wasim’s true identity had been found two months earlier after his Aadhar card had fallen from his pocket. When she heard that he was a Muslim, the woman questioned him. He then showed her the images and proceeded to extort her, threatening her to make viral pictures on social media.

Speaking of their experience, the woman reported a meeting with Wasim through one of her mates. The survivor revealed that she was married in 2004. She had two daughters from her first marriage.

The woman came in touch with Wasim through her landlady. Pretending to be a Hindu man named Vikas, he took his phone number and began to call her daily. Gradually, they became close friends and formed a passion for each other. Wasim lured her to have a sexual relationship with him. Two months ago, when she learned that Wasim was cheating on her, she challenged him. Wasim then proceeded to torment her and beat her. He even started to extort her with her personal images.

The woman recalled how Wasim declared himself an atheist and never followed her to the temples. Learning the facts, the distraught woman approached Mahila Thana to lodge a complaint against Wasim, following which the police conducted a manhunt to apprehend the accused.

Over the years, like Uttar Pradesh, rampant instances of Grooming Jihad have also arisen in Madhya Pradesh, as a result of which the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has adopted some strict provisions in the proposed law against forced religiosity.

Provisions have been added to protect situations where religious organisations are found to be indulging in cases of Grooming Jihad or forced conversion. The proposed Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in jail and a fine of up to 1 lakh in case of conversion through marriage or by some other dishonest means.

Marriages solemnised solely for the purpose of religious conversion will be declared null and void under the proposed law. Mass religious conversion (of 2 or more people) will attract 5-10 years of imprisonment and a minimum fine of Rs 1 lakh.

Government officials informed that after the proposed law is enacted, a person willing to convert to another religion would need to submit a declaration before a District Magistrate at least one month in advance.