Serious allegations of forced religious conversion, molestation and an attempt to murder have surfaced against the spiritual head of Huzur Mariam Amma Dargah near Gadeghat in Old Kamptee and his associates. The incident came to light after a woman from Kolkata approached Kanhan Police and claimed that she was attacked and confined after resisting attempts to convert her religion. Kanhan police have registered an FIR against six accused and started investigation. Those named in the FIR include Taji Janviruddin alias dargah’s Baba, his wife Taji Mustafafiruddin Faiz, Tejas Khobragade, Bashra Fatema Taji, Malla Dhule and others.

 

According to police, the woman, a resident of the Dum Dum area of Kolkata, had been visiting the dargah for prayers for some time. In April this year, she travelled to Kamptee to attend a religious programme being held at the shrine. In her complaint, the woman alleged that on the night of April 18, a group of people at the dargah tried to force her to convert to another religion. When she resisted, they allegedly assaulted and molested her. She further claimed that an attempt was made on her life and that she was illegally confined on the premises.

 

The woman stated that she somehow managed to escape the following day and boarded a train back to Kolkata. She reached home on April 21 and underwent treatment at a private hospital. After recovering, she approached the Dum Dum Police Station on May 3 and lodged a complaint. A Zero FIR was registered there and later transferred to Kanhan Police, as the alleged incident occurred within their jurisdiction. Kanhan Police received the case papers on Wednesday and registered an offence. Police officials said the woman's detailed statement is yet to be recorded and the investigation is in its initial stages. “The case was transferred to us by Dum Dum police. Since the victim's statement has not yet been recorded here, it would be premature to comment on the exact sequence of events. Further investigation is underway,” a Kanhan police official said. No arrests had been reported till the filing of this report.