PALANPUR: A 30-year-old pregnant woman has accused three brothers and their uncle of repeatedly raping and assaulting her, blackmailing her with a private video and forcing her to convert to their religion in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, police said on Sunday.Based on her complaint, Dhanera police registered a case on August 20 against Akhtar Rajabshah Fakir, his brothers Arif Rajabshah Fakir and Iliyas Rajabshah Fakir, and their uncle Salimshah Jumashah Fakir.“We have started further investigation. No one has been arrested yet,” said inspector SD Chaudhary.According to the FIR, the woman, who was five months pregnant, was allegedly subjected to repeated sexual assault and physical abuse last month.She alleged that Akhtar, who was known to her estranged husband, became close to her after claiming that his grandfather could provide “tantric” remedies for her health problems.The woman had earlier filed a sexual assault case against Akhtar and his relatives at Palanpur East police station in April, following which Akhtar and two others were arrested, police said.She alleged that Arif and Iliyas, who were absconding in that case, threatened to kill her and kidnap her daughters.She was subsequently forced to file an affidavit before the Gujarat High Court for a compromise, according to the FIR.After the accused were released from jail on June 16, the woman and Akhtar moved to Pengiya village in Dhanera taluka as she hoped their situation would improve and that they would live peacefully, the FIR said.However, she alleged that Akhtar continued to sexually assault and beat her despite her pregnancy and also pressured her to contact other men over phone calls.When she refused, Akhtar and his relatives allegedly used a secretly recorded private video to blackmail her and threatened to circulate it on social media, the FIR said.She further alleged that the three brothers and their uncle repeatedly raped her.The woman also accused the four of forcing her to undergo religious conversion.She alleged that a local cleric was brought to perform ‘nikah’, that she was given a spiked drink during the ceremony and that her name was changed to ‘Fiza’.She further alleged that the accused threatened to bring her daughters, who were staying with their grandparents, and forcibly convert them as well.On July 21, the four accused allegedly assaulted her and threw her out of the house, refusing to take responsibility for her or her unborn child, according to the FIR.The woman subsequently sought help from a shopkeeper and contacted the 181 women’s helpline. She later moved to Lakhani with her mother’s support, police said.The accused have been booked for rape, criminal intimidation and assault under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and under the Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, police said.(With agency inputs)(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
