Updated: December 20, 2020 11:54:24 am
Rashid Ali and Saleem Ali with their family after their release in the Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday. (Express photo)
A 22-year-old man detained under Uttar Pradesh’s new anti-conversion law in the Moradabad district and his brother were released on Saturday after two weeks in jail, following testimony from the woman who was allegedly forcibly converted from that she had married him. readily. Police said they had found no evidence against Rashid Ali or his brother Saleem, 25.
Rashid was with Pinki, 22, to register their marriage on December 5 when they were approached by alleged men from Bajrang Dal, who accused Rashid of “love jihad”, and took them to the police. Saleem was with them at the time. While Rashid and Saleem were arrested, Pinki was sent to a shelter.
Moradabad (rural) Additional Police Superintendent Vidya Sagar Mishra said: “In our report filed with the court on Thursday, we had stated that, given the woman’s statement, no evidence could be found against the accused … We did not seek his preventive detention … which cleared the way for the release of the accused ”.
Earlier, after Pinki told the court that she was an adult and had voluntarily married Rashid, she was allowed to leave with Rashid’s family.
Speaking to the media after Rashid’s release, Pinki thanked the media. Although both she and Rashid blamed Bajrang Dal for what happened, the couple said they did not want to pursue the matter. “We want to live in peace, I don’t want to take legal action against anyone,” Rashid said.
Additional SP Mishra said that Rashid and Saleem were asked to post personal bonds of Rs 50,000 each for their release. When asked if the police will continue with the case, he said: “The investigation will continue. There is a process … There are many aspects to a probe. We will follow the process. “
Saleem told reporters that the three would return after meeting with a judge who had told them to file an application with the district magistrate regarding the wedding. “Our attorney said that we should return at 4 pm and that he would submit our application. Near the Ramlila field, the Bajrang Dal people caught us. “
Saleem said that the police station officers treated them well and that they were not assaulted in any way. “We are out due to the legal setup,” he said.
Pinki repeated on Saturday that she had lost the three-month-old baby she was carrying. She told The Indian Express that she had received her ultrasound reports. “They (the doctors) told me that I had an infection near the uterus and that I had lost my son.”
Rashid said that he had just found out what had happened. “I told the men of Bajrang Dal that my wife is pregnant, but they insulted us. They dragged us to a police station and called my in-laws. Then they locked us up and sent us to a quarantine center. I couldn’t meet my wife. “
Rashid added that he and Pinki met a year ago and she knew from the beginning that he is Muslim. “I have not deceived or forced her.”
Mishra said only doctors can comment on Pinki’s claims that she lost her baby.
Dr. Nirmala Pathak, Acting Chief Medical Superintendent of the Moradabad Mahila District Hospital, where Pinki was admitted twice for complaints of abdominal pain, while at the shelter, did not respond to multiple calls made by The Sunday Express.
Also, District Magistrate Rakesh Kumar Singh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. MC Garg and Deputy Director General Dr. Deepak Verma could not be reached.
District (Moradabad) Probation Officer Rajesh Chandra Gupta, who took Pinki to Mahila District Hospital after she complained of pain, declined to speak about her condition. “You should ask the doctors about it. My job was to get her admitted to the hospital, ”Gupta said. On December 13, Gupta had said that “false news about the miscarriage of a girl circulates on social media.”
Subdivisional Magistrate (SDM) Kanth Himanshu Verma said he could not speak about the alleged miscarriage “as the district hospital is not in my jurisdiction.” Additional District (Administration) Magistrate Laxmi Shankar Singh said: “She has given her statement in court. I should go to court and find out what his statement was … I am an official of the district administration. Does the district administration investigate a person’s pregnancy? “
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