A distressing case of love jihad and religious conversion has emerged from Mira Road in Thane district, leaving the community in shock. The Nayanagar police have taken action against five individuals, including a boyfriend and a religious authority, following a complaint lodged by a 22-year-old girl from Mira Bhayander town.
According to the young woman’s statement to the Naya Nagar police, the troubling events began in 2022 when she became acquainted with a boy named Shahbaz in Borivali. Shahbaz introduced her to Amin Azam Sheikh, who soon became a central figure in the harrowing ordeal.
After a few encounters, Amin Sheikh reportedly approached the girl outside her computer class on 16th February 2022 and professed his love. When she declined his advances, Amin resorted to a deeply disturbing tactic, brandishing a knife and threatening to harm himself if she didn’t reciprocate. Fearing for his safety, the girl reluctantly responded with the words, “I love you.”
The situation took a darker turn when Amin took the girl to his home and introduced her to his parents. A few days later, he called her to his house, claiming that his brother’s daughter was ill and needed immediate attention at the hospital.
Upon arriving at Amin’s house, the girl found no one except Amin himself. Seizing the opportunity, he allegedly forced himself upon her under the threat of self-harm.
On June 21, 2022, Amin and two other individuals arrived at the victim’s house in a car. One of them asserted that they were sent from a mosque and declared that the young woman would be converted from Hinduism to Islam, implying she would no longer be considered a “Kafir.”
They took her to a religious authority (Qazi) in Bandra, where her name was changed to Rahima, and she was made to sign three stamp papers each worth 100 rupees. Following this, Amin took her to the Hazrat Baleshah Sayyid Dargah of Uttan, where a talisman was tied to her hand.
The next day, when the girl returned to Amin’s house, she faced the disapproval of his mother, who questioned why this “infidel” was brought home. It was then revealed that Amin had been previously married and the girl he had introduced as his brother’s child was, in reality, his own.
As the days passed, the victim allegedly endured further torment from Amin and his family, being forcibly confined within their home. Fortunately, her plight came to the attention of the police through a complaint, leading to her rescue.
Based on the girl’s statement, the Naya Nagar Police have registered a case against Amin Azam Sheikh, her mother Reshma Azam Sheikh, Qazi Muftin Ismail, Jariab Salim Sayyed, and an unidentified person from Naya Nagar complex. The charges include sections 376(2)(n) (rape), 366 (kidnapping, abducting, or inducing a woman to compel her marriage), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
All five accused have been arrested, and the police have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter. This case has sparked debates on love jihad and religious conversions within the region.
