Maharashtra: Pastor Rahul, four others gang-rape Hindu woman, force her to convert

The woman has alleged in her complaint that despite pressure and being assaulted she refused to convert to Christianity. She was saved from the clutches of four persons by her husband

New Delhi, Feb 07: The Maharashtra police arrested four persons for raping a 35-year old Hindu woman, torturing her family and also forcing them to covert to Christianity.

The police registered the FIR on February 4 against five persons of which four have been identified as Butti, Prerna, Bhausaheb Dodke and Pastor Rahul. The identity of the fifth person is not known as yet. The police filed the FIR under Sections 323, 328, 244, 504, 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and 76(1) of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act 2015.

Opindia while citing the FIR said that the incident took place in Davao Mala area os Sinner Nashik in Maharashtra. In the complaint the victim mentioned that the accused had been torturing her and her family since November last year. She also said that the accused had trapped and raped her many times since November 2022.

The woman and her husband who are labourers had moved in with their three kids to Sinnar from Ratewadi, Sangamner in search of a job 2-3 years back. They were undertaking temporary jobs for their survival and also kept looking for permanent jobs on the side. On November 30 last year, the woman had gone in search of a job, but was suddenly stopped by the accused while she was on the way to Musalgaon.

The victim said,'the women stopped me and asked me where I was going and why I looking tense. When I told them I was looking for a job, they told me to accompany them and assured that they would provide me with a job. They introduced themselves as Butti and Prerna. When they took me to their home, I saw Bhausaheb. The three of them asked me if knew anything about Christianity and told me that if I convert all my financial problems would be solved.'

After a while Pastor Rahul arrived and offered me a 'red drink.' " After showing me a picture of Jesus, I was forcibly made to drink some red water. I began to lose by consciousness. While I was forcibly kept in the room by Butti and Prerna, Bahusaheb established sexual relations with me without my knowledge and permission," she also said in the complaint.

She also said that Butti and Prerna on December 2 took her 'mangalsutra' and tied a black threat around her neck to signify that she had been converted to Christianity. The woman was also brutally tortured while she was trapped in a room by the accused. "Pastor Rahul and Bahusaheb arrived with another man and they raped me on December 2," she also said.

She also said that she did not get any support from Butti and Prerna. They got another man to the room and said that he would be my owner. When I realised that they were trying to sell me, I protested and began screaming in the room. I also used abusive language on the man who they wanted to sell me to, but he fled from the spot, the victim also said.

On December 17, her husband who had been searching for her reached the spot accompanied by his younger son. Both of them were told to leave, but then on refusing Bhausaheb assaulted the son and threatened the husband.

The husband however managed to save his wife and kid on December 29. They were told by the accused to leave and keep the matter a secret. The FIR said that the victim returned to Sangamner and sought the help of a social worker who guided them on how to file a police complaint. The complaint was registered on February 4 and the accused were booked in the case.

Reports say that the accused have been arrested by the police and will be in police custody until February 8.