Sisters beaten up for converting to Islam

Vinita Shaw, 25, a resident of 57/2B Bondel Road, adopted Islam in December last year. Her new name, vide an affidavit by a first class magistrate is, Taiba Khatoon (The Indian Express possesses a copy of the affidavit). Her sister, 18-year-old Pooja Shaw, too, expressed her wish to follow suit last week.

The conversion apparently did not go down too well with their neighbours, who, on June 8, beat up the two sisters and their family, including her mother and brother, with bricks and rods.

"We are a very poor family. My father is paralytic and bed-ridden. These people started a fight on the pretext that we dirty the place too much. But when they started beating us, they said unmentionable things as I have converted," said Vinita. She also alleged that both sisters were abused and molested.

Vinita also claimed harassment at the hands of the police."I went to the police station with a written complaint against Asim Bera, Tapas Bera, Abhishek Malakar, Krishna Ray, Akash Ray, Manoj Singh, Bikas Singh and Birju Paswan but investigating officer D D Roy Chowdhury tore it up and wrote it himself. He even refused to give me a copy of the complaint and when I insisted, he asked the other officer there to give it to me, referring to me with unmentionable names," she said.

Pooja is still admitted at a private hospital in Broad Street. "I did not want anyone to know that after my sister, I, too, wanted to convert but these people somehow got an air of it. They are close aides of the local councillor, which is why the police is not taking any action," she said.

She also said that when her paternal uncle, Kanaiya Lal Shaw, who lives next door, came to their rescue, he was also roughed up. "My mother Munni Devi and one of my brothers who was with us at that time were also assaulted," she said.

OC, Karaya, S N Majumdar said a case had been lodged in the incident but denied any police inaction. "I met the girls and if they had anything against any officers, they should have told me. Even now if they have any complaint against any officer, it should be given to me in writing and I will definitely look into it," he said.

Councillor of Ward 65 Sushil Sharma said he did not know the girls. "I only happen to know some of the accused. I don't even know the name of the complainant. I am a broad-minded person and would not interfere with anyone's religious sentiments. Whoever is at fault should be brought to book," he said.

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