Girl married Kohli who turned out to be Hasan; faced torture for nikaah
RANCHI: The Jharkhand police lodged an FIR on the complaint of national-level shooter Tara Shadeo, who alleged she was deceived by one Ranjit Kumar Kohli into marriage, whose real name is Raqibul Hasan Khan. She said in her complaint that she was tortured for over a month to accept her husband's religion.
Confirming this, Ranchi SSP Prabhat Kumar told reporters on Sunday, "Raqibul Hasan Khan was known as Ranjit Kumar Kohli among people in Ranchi. After their marriage, he forced Tara to have a nikaah, which she refused, and was tortured for raising her voice in protest."
Kumar said police have charged Hasan with IPC section 295A which deals with deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings of a class by insulting its religious beliefs. Following the August 22 FIR, the police sealed two of Hasan's houses and six cars.
Hindu religious organizations like the VHP called for a Ranchi bandh on Monday against Tara's fraudulent marriage, her torture and confinement. They demanded a CBI probe into Hasan's role, alleging he could be part of jihadi outfit carrying out forcible conversions by luring Hindu girls into marriage.
Tara, who is related to the erstwhile ruling family of the Palkot principality, won the gold medal at a national event, Eastern India Shooting Championship (2011-12).
Tara met Jharkhand Women's Commission chairperson Mahua Manjhi on August 23 and told her about her plight, saying she met Hasan as Ranjit Kohli in May this year during shooting practice at the range at Hotwar sports complex in Ranchi.
Tara Shahdeo, who comes from a royal family, showing her wounds inflicted by Hasan. The VHP demanded a CBI probe alleging Hasan could be part of a jihadi outfit carrying out forcible conversions by luring Hindu girls.
"He was well known as Kohli and connected to high-profile people of the state and a regular visitor at the shooting range," Tara told Manjhi, who quoted her. "Kohli" proposed her though her friends, Tara told the JWC chairperson, and their wedding took place according to Hindu rituals at a five-star hotel in Ranchi on July 20. It was attended by many well-known personalities including former Jharkhand Speaker Inder Singh Namdhari.
Tara's father Lal Ambika Nath Shahdeo said Hasan was well networked as Kohli and many people said positive things about him. "I tried to verify his credentials and most people I spoke to had positive remarks about him," he said.
After Hasan insisted on nikah, Tara also found letters marked in the name of Raqibul Hasan Khan.
"Most guests (visiting home) were Muslims and I came across invitation cards sent to him in the name Raqibul Hasan Khan," she told the JCW chairperson.
She said she was tortured and asked to accept Islam. Tara showed her wounds to the JSWC chairperson Manjhi, including dog bites, forced by her husband.
Hasan, she alleged, had taken away her mobile phone to ensure she couldn't contact her family. He, Tara said, had threatened to kill her father and brother if she spoke out. She then sent a message to her brother through her maid, when Hasan was out of the city.
"We raided Hasan's house with over a dozen policemen and rescued her on August 19," said Tara's brother, Dwed Nath Shahdeo. "Tara had injury marks on her body and was admitted to Ranchi Institute of Medical Sciences. Two days later, she was released and we lodged an FIR with the Hindpiri police station," he said.
Meanwhile, Hasan and his mother are said to have escaped from Ranchi in one of their SUVs. "A high alert has been sounded but they are untraced. They seem to have left Jharkhand," said DSP Kotwali Deepak Ambasth.
Inspector Mohammed Farooq, who raided Hasan's houses, said, the seized six cars and motorbike are registered in Ranchi registration in the name of Raqibul Hasan Khan. Special team has been constituted to arrest Hasan.
