Woman given triple talaq, seeks Bajrang Dal help

A 21-year-old pregnant woman was allegedly divorced through triple talaq by her 40-year-old husband in Dehradun, even as the Supreme Court has ruled that the practice followed by Muslim men is unconstitutional and the Centre plans a law to criminalise the act with a punishment of three years in jail.

Her husband Raees Qureshi, a resident of Raipur area of Dehradun, allegedly drove the woman out of his house and refused to give maintenance. The woman then approached local leaders of the Bajrang Dal who brought her to the police headquarters.

“She came to us about three days ago and after listening to her story, we were moved and thought of helping her. We brought her to additional director general of police, law & order, Ashok Kumar, who assured us of ensuring justice,” said Vikas Verma, city convenor of the Bajrang Dal.

ADGP Kumar said, “The incident is very serious and police will take necessary action to help her and solve all her issues.”

The woman from Mehuwala area of the city said she married Qureshi on October 28 last year. It was her second marriage after she got mutually separated from her first husband about a year ago. She said she separated from her first husband after he was diagnosed with HIV positive.

The woman, who has a 2-year-old son from her first husband, was given instant talaq by Qureshi about a week ago.

“After getting separated from my first husband, I was desperate for a job to take care of my 2-year-old son. I came in contact with Qureshi about a year ago, who offered me a job to manage his meat shop in Raipur area at a monthly salary of ₹10,000. I accepted it and started working there,” the woman said.

One day, she said, Qureshi’s brother-in-law Furquan came to the shop on the pretext of enquiring about sale and raped her.

“I informed the incident to Furquan’s sister and Qureshi’s wife. Instead of confronting her brother, Furquan’s sister accused Qureshi of having an extra-marital affair with me and raping me,” the woman said. “I then lodged a complaint against Furquan in the local police station.”

A few months after the incident, Qureshi raped her, the woman said. “I was about to lodge a complaint against Qureshi, but he asked me not to do so and offered to marry me,” the woman said. “I agreed. He married me according to Muslim rituals on October 28 last year.”

After a few months, the woman said, Qureshi’s first wife started abusing and beating her, and asked her to leave. “A month ago, she attacked me with a knife; I sustained injuries on my stomach and hands while I was pregnant,” the woman said.

“I then lodged a complaint against her in Raipur police station. About seven days ago, Qureshi gave me triple talaq by coming to the meat shop.” the woman said, adding he asked her leave the meat shop.

Repeated attempts to contact woman’s husband failed.

The woman claimed that when the local police did not take action against Qureshi’s first wife and then she was given triple talaq, she approached the local Bajrang Dal leaders.

“I belong to a poor family comprising my parents and five brothers. My father is bed-ridden as he is paralysed and my mother is suffering from heart ailment. My brothers are taking care of my parents,” the woman said.