Kanpur: A 35-year-old man accused of posing as a Hindu to marry two women of the same religion was arrested in Kanpur’s Panki late Wednesday after police rescued both women held captive at his house.A case has been filed against Irshad alias “Vishal” under Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, along with charges of wrongful confinement, criminal intimidation and other sections. Investigators said Irshad had first married a Hindu woman from Hardoi in 2018, allegedly forcing her to convert to Islam.The first victim told the police that she met Irshad through social media, where he introduced himself as Vishal. She eloped with him against her family’s wishes. However, during the court marriage process, she allegedly discovered that his real name was Irshad. After the marriage, she alleged that he repeatedly pressured her to convert to Islam, prevented her from practising her religion and assaulted her whenever she refused.According to the woman, the abuse intensified after Irshad married another Hindu woman. She eventually managed to contact Bajrang Dal, whose members alerted the police.The second victim, a resident of Unnao, told police that she married Irshad believing he was unmarried after he identified himself as a Hindu. She said she was unaware of his previous marriage and alleged deception.Panki inspector Dinesh Singh Bisht said the cops found the first woman confined in one room late Wednesday, while the second woman and Irshad were in another portion of the house. “Further investigations are underway,” Bisht said.
