Uzbek woman alleges rape by man who lured her to India on Facebook

A woman was arrested and a hunt launched for her husband for the alleged rape of an Uzbek national and pushing her into prostitution in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area.

A woman was arrested and a hunt launched for her husband for the alleged rape of an Uzbek national and pushing her into prostitution in south Delhi’s Vasant Kunj area.

India brought in more stringent laws two years ago against sexual offenders after the fatal gang-rape of a student in Delhi in December 2012, but they have failed to stem the tide of violence against women across the country, while politicians keep coming up with bizarre excuses and theories. ((AP file photo))

According to the 23-year-old woman’s complaint, Altaf alias Raju, 34, befriended her on Facebook in May last year.

“He told her that he was in love with her and proposed to her. He also asked her to come to India and join his ‘business’. When she landed in India, Altaf took her to a hotel room in Mahipalpur and repeatedly raped her on the pretext of marriage,” a senior police officer said.

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The woman further alleged that Altaf held her captive in the room and made video recordings of her.

He later introduced her to his wife Anjali, 23, and threatened to post the videos online if she tried to leave the country.

“The woman alleged that the couple took her passport and cash and pushed her into flesh trade. She said they sent clients to the room and forced her to entertain them,” the officer told HT.

The woman managed to escape on Saturday with the help of a friend and approached the Vasant Kunj police, who registered a case of rape and immoral trafficking.

Anjali was arrested and Altaf, who has several criminal cases registered against him, was on the run. “Our teams are raiding his hideouts and we expect to arrest him soon. We are also investigating whether he was running a flesh trade racket involving the trafficking of Uzbeki woman,” another police officer said.

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