BALLIA: Police have registered a case against a man based on a complaint by his Dalit domestic help, who alleged that she was raped on the promise of marriage and pressured to convert her religion, officials said on Sunday.The woman, who had been working at the man’s house in Uttar Pradesh’s Ballia district for several years, alleged that he entered into a “written agreement” of marriage with her five years ago when she was 17, promising to formalise the marriage when she turned 20.She further alleged in her police complaint that he had molested her and forced her into other sexual acts even before that period. According to the police, a case was registered against Jalaluddin (24) on Saturday. He has been booked under relevant sections of BNS, including rape, and Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the SC/ST Act.A police official told news agency PTI that, in her complaint, the woman stated that Jalaluddin brought her to his house for domestic work, taking advantage of the fact that she was poor and an orphan.He allegedly began molesting her gradually and later developed physical relations with her. The victim alleged that when she threatened to speak up, Jalaluddin, entered into a “written agreement and married” her on August 10, 2021. At the time, she was told that he would formally marry her and give her a share in his property once she turned 20, the official said.When she later pressured him to marry her, she was allegedly coerced to convert her religion. When she refused, she was allegedly threatened with death, police said.The woman further alleged that Jalaluddin had been forcing sexual relations with her since 2017. She also claimed that he is now planning to marry another woman, police added. Rasra Circle Officer (CO) Rajnish said a case has been registered based on the victim’s complaint. He added that procedures are underway to record the victim’s statement before a local court in Ballia, and police have initiated a detailed investigation into the matter. (The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)(With agency inputs)
