A woman hailing from Rajouri district in the Pir Panjal valley is facing serious allegations from multiple men who claim to have been duped by her in a string of fraudulent marriages. The number of victims is steadily increasing, prompting concerned individuals to stage street demonstrations in Srinagar on Thursday.
The J&K Police have taken swift action by filing a First Information Report (FIR) under Section 420 and 120B of the Indian Penal Code in Budgam, central Kashmir. The initial complaint was made by a local resident who fell victim to the alleged scheme after being married for a few months. Subsequently, numerous men have come forward with similar accusations, and the police have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.
Following the accused woman’s presentation of an anticipatory bail on Friday, she was released by the authorities. However, a middleman from Khan Sahib in Budgam, who was involved in arranging one of the marriages, has been apprehended. Although the accused denies any knowledge of the various grooms, the police are actively pursuing leads to establish the complete list of victims.
One of the victims, Mohammed Altaf Mir from Budgam, claimed that he was introduced to the bride by a middleman who appears to be part of a larger network. “It seems to be a gang operation. The middlemen introduce the woman under different names and facilitate her marriage to men in Kashmir. After the wedding, she vanishes from the house with cash and gold, using various excuses,” Mr. Mir alleged.
The woman allegedly identified herself as Shaheena, Zaheena, and other aliases during the marriage ceremonies, which were supposedly attended by her alleged “family members” as well, according to the affected men.
Reports suggest that she has been accused of marrying over two dozen men from Kashmir. However, the police are yet to confirm the exact number of victims. In response to the allegations, six men staged demonstrations in Srinagar’s Press Colony, calling for swift action to prevent future deceits of this nature.
In Muslim culture, marriage involves a contract and the payment of mehr, a predetermined amount given by the groom to the bride. The victims claim that the accused woman would demand a substantial sum as mehr and then abscond with the money and gold within a few weeks. Most of the victims assert that they were defrauded of amounts ranging from ₹4 to 6 lakh, allegedly orchestrated by the woman and her associates. Another man from Budgam lamented, “We are tricked into marrying her by the middlemen.”
Abid Zahoor Andrabi, a lawyer representing one of the deceived men from Budgam, suspects the involvement of a well-organized inter-district gang. Disturbingly, the victims include elderly and disabled individuals, highlighting the vulnerability of those targeted.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
