Thrashed by goons 10 days ago, Madhya Pradesh youth arrested in conversion bid

Jaipur: Indore police in Madhya Pradesh have booked and arrested a man ten days after he was assaulted for travelling on a train with a Hindu woman in Ujjain.

Asif Sheikh has been arrested on charges of forceful religious conversion and extortion based on a written application by the woman named Shakshi Jain.

In her complaint, the woman said Sheikh, a friend of her husband, would come to her house frequently, and a few months ago, clicked her "objectionable photos". She alleged Sheikh threatened to defame her and was blackmailing her for money. Arun Solanki, local police officer said that recently he allegedly started pressuring her for conversion for marriage.

The woman claimed she was under pressure and was following what he was instructed her to do. She added the accused was "forcefully taking her to Ajmer" when some people stopped them. The woman said she got scared and did not file any complaint at Ujjain.

Superintendent of Police, Ujjain GRP, Nivedita Gupta had then said the two were let go after their parents were called in and it was learnt they were family friends. "They were two consenting adults and there was no crime, (so) they were let go," Gupta had told The Indian Express.

Solanki said Jain's statement was recorded before the magistrate while Asif was issued a notice — he came to the police station and was then sent to jail.

On the night of 14 January, Shiekh and the Hindu woman were spotted travelling together and were dragged out of an AC coach of the train at Ujjain railway station by members of Bajrang Dal. The goons thrashed Sheikh alleging 'Love Jihad'.

Both the woman and Sheikh were let off after the police intervened in the matter and both their parents denied any 'love jihad' angle in the incident, IANS reported.

In a viral video following the assault, the woman could be heard questioning the Bajrang Dal members over why they were filming her without her consent.

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