Prayagraj: A disturbing case emerged from Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj, wherein a mother alleged that her 15-year-old daughter was abducted, trafficked to Kerala and subjected to forced religious conversion and radicalisation for a terror plot.
On June 28, Guddi Devi, a resident of the Phoolpur disctrict, filed a police complaint, asserting that 19-year-old Tarkasha Bano, accompanied by Mohammad Kaif, lured her 15-year-old daughter with money, before taking her away with the intention of converting to Islam.
After speaking to the victim's family, the Phoolpur police registered an FIR in the case.
Have a look at the police's statement here:
Abduction and the Alleged Ordeal
According to the complaint, on May 8, Tarkasha Bano allegedly coerced the minor girl to leave her home in Phoolpur, and travel to Kerala with her. Mohammad Kaif transported the victim to Priyagraj Junction on his motorcycle, where he reportedly sexually assaulted her.
From Prayagraj, Tarkasha Bano then took the girl to Delhi, and subsequently to Thrissur in Kerala. There, the victim claims she was introduced to individuals who initially offered her money, then coerced her into converting to Islam, and later pressured her for 'Jihad'. During her ordeal, she was allegedly told that other Dalit girls had already converted, were "leading happy lives", and some had even been sent abroad.
How Did the Girl Escape?
Fearing for her safety, the girl managed to escape and reached Trishul railway station, where the local police intervened and informed her relatives. She was temporarily held at the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Kerala. Her family, with the assistance of Phoolpur police, successfully brought her back home.
2 Arrested, Police Launch Probe
Following the FIR, both Tarkasha Bano and Mohammad Kaif had been arrested by the police, and an investigation is currently underway.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Tarkasha Bano is part of an "organised group" that targets "poor and Dalit girls", allegedly brainwashing them and forcing conversions to Islam, in order to involve them in "terrorist activities".
Ganganagar DCP Kuldeep Singh Gunawat confirmed that three dedicated teams have been formed to investigate the gang's members and activities, and a search operation is on to catch other suspects.
