A 28-year-old man was arrested on Tuesday in Varanasi for allegedly assaulting a woman and recording obscene videos of her. Authorities report that he used these videos to blackmail her into prostitution and religious conversion. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and rights of women in the region.
Faiz came on the police radar after a woman, aged around 20, filed a complaint at Cantt police station on July 31. Based on her complaint, police registered an FIR against Faiz under Sections 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), 351(3) (criminal intimidation), 303(2) (theft) and 69 (sexual intercourse with a woman by making a false promise of marriage) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Sections 3/5 of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021.
DCP Varuna zone Pramod Kumar said Mohd Faiz, a resident of the Omkaleshwar area under Adampur police station, was arrested following detailed questioning at Cantt police station. She alleged that after becoming close to her, Faiz recorded her obscene videos. He later allegedly threatened to circulate her objectionable photos and videos on social media to pressure her into religious conversion and prostitution. Whenever she refused to follow his diktat, Faiz allegedly assaulted her and threatened to kill her.