Nuh Police make first arrest under Haryana anti-conversion law

According to Nuh Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Prithvi Singh, the complainant has been living in Nuh with her two children for several years.

“She was married to a labourer in Nuh in 2008. However, their marriage fell apart due to her husband’s criminal activities. After he was jailed in a murder case and abandoned the woman and their children, she began living alone in a rented house, supporting her family through daily wage work,” said the DSP.

In 2020, police said she met Azam, who initially offered to help her and her children.

“Over time, he gained her trust, frequently visiting her home and professing love. The woman alleged that Azam took her and her children to Noida, Panipat, and later Bhiwadi, where, in June 2020, he coerced her into converting her religion. A maulana was brought to their rented accommodation in Bhiwadi… and her name was changed. Azam also allegedly compelled her to marry him,” said the DSP.

The complainant further claimed that after the conversion, Azam’s behaviour changed drastically. “He allegedly… pressured her to wear a burqa and offer namaz… She also accused him of physical abuse and verbal harassment…,” the spokesperson said.

Police said Azam allegedly pressured her to change her name on official documents like her Aadhaar card.

Police said the woman later discovered that Azam was already married with children. When she visited his village to check, police said his first wife and family members allegedly attacked her.

Police said she escaped to Nuh, but Azam continued to live with her and her children, taking her earnings and allegedly subjecting her to more physical and mental abuse.

Police said the woman also accused Azam’s brothers-in-law of harassing her over the phone with obscene remarks and pressuring her for marriage.

The case was registered at Nuh Women’s Police Station following a complaint by the woman.

The FIR invoked sections 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 354 (assault or criminal force to a woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 295 (injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class), 418 (cheating with knowledge that wrongful loss may ensue to a person whose interest the offender is bound to protect), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 506 (criminal intimidation), and 342 (wrongful confinement) of the Indian Penal Code.

It also invoked Section 75 (punishment for cruelty to a child) of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2015, and Section 12(4) (punishment for unlawful religious conversion by misrepresentation, force, fraud, or marriage) of the Haryana Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2022.

Acting on DSP Singh’s orders, Azam was arrested, and further investigation is underway. “Police are proceeding in accordance with the law,” the DSP said.