Nagpur: A minor girl was allegedly abducted at the age of 16 in 2020, sexually exploited and later forced into a marriage by a youth. The case came to light on Friday when she approached the police detailing years of alleged physical and mental torture.Police claimed the survivor’s name and age were changed in a forged Aadhaar card. They are also not ruling out a forced religious conversion angle.Police registered a case under multiple provisions of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including kidnapping, POCSO Act provisions for sexual offences against a minor, and Prohibition of Child Marriage Act. The sections related to forgery of documents and criminal conspiracy were also invoked.
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The case, which allegedly began around Aug 13, 2020, in Mankapur-Zingabai Takli area. The accused, Sameer Ali, then around 21-24 years old, abducted the girl and established physical relations with her, treating her as his wife, stated the complainant. Sameer worked at a pan kiosk near Mankapur Chowk.To legitimise the relationship, the accused allegedly prepared a fake Aadhaar card to change her name and increase her age to portray her as an adult. In 2021, the girl was taken to a shrine near Awasthi Chowk in the presence of Sameer’s family members — Aziza Munir Ali, 45, and Munir Ali, 50. There, the nikah was solemnised by Maulana Anwar, said the complainant.The survivor is now the mother of a 4-year-old child allegedly fathered by Sameer Ali. She alleged that Sameer, Aziza and Munir conspired to deceive her for religious conversion and exploitation, said a police source. The fake Aadhaar card was used to admit her to a govt maternity hospital, said a source.Senior officers confirmed that teams are verifying the timeline, checking the Aadhaar card, statements of witnesses, including the marriage arranger, and medical and forensic evidence. “The girl was a minor at the time of the alleged abduction and initial exploitation. We are exploring all angles, including personal relationships turning sour,” a senior police officer said.Investigators are specifically probing whether she was lured and forced to change religion for marriage.Senior Inspector Harish Kalsekar of Mankapur police station said there is no conclusive finding yet. “The accused has been arrested,” said Kalsekar.Residents from Mankapur-Faras Chowk and nearby slums, as well as social activists, demanded swift justice and a crackdown on alleged interfaith marriage rackets happening under the guise of love. The survivor is reportedly under police protection.Investigations are underway to establish the full conspiracy, the role of the maulana, and the veracity of all documents involved.