Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji

Panaji, Sep 30: Goa Police have arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly stalking and sexually assaulting a 16-year-old girl from Mormugao taluka and subsequently attempting to force her to convert to Islam, according to police.

The minor told police that the accused allegedly threatened to circulate her compromising photographs on social media before kidnapping her and taking her to Solapur. After a few days, they allegedly moved to Hospet in Karnataka, where police later traced and rescued her.

Police had initially registered a case of kidnapping. Following the minor's statement and medical examination, provisions relating to rape and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act were added to the FIR, Verna Police Inspector Anand Shirodkar said.

According to her statement, the minor alleged that the accused continued to threaten her and sexually assault her. She also alleged that he began pressuring her to convert to Islam after she became pregnant.

The girl told police that she was allegedly forced to stop following Hindu religious practices and was instructed not to wear a bindi or kumkum. She further alleged that the accused made her wear a black dupatta and cover her face.

She also alleged that she was prevented from visiting temples or performing Hindu rituals. According to her statement, when she brought pictures of Hindu deities to the room, the accused allegedly became angry and burnt a picture of Goddess Lakshmi.

The minor further alleged that the accused and an associate prepared a fake Aadhaar card by changing her name.

She also told police that the accused's mother and sister allegedly advised him to remain in hiding for two years and marry the girl after she turned 18. She alleged that the accused would lock her inside a room when he went to work and that he once took her to a dargah, where they stayed for two days, and made her wear a tabeez.

Police were eventually able to trace the minor after she managed to obtain access to a phone and contacted them through a friend of her brother. The investigation is continuing.