Anju, who went to Pakistan to meet Facebook friend, returns

Anju Rafael had reportedly Nasarullah and converted to Islam and was known as Fatima.

Updated on: Nov 29, 2023, 18:36:51 IST

By HT News Desk

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Anju Rafael, the 34-year-old woman from Rajasthan who had travelled to Pakistan to marry her Facebook friend in July, returned to India on Wednesday.

“I am happy...I have no other comments,” Anju told reporters after returning.

Anju had travelled legally to Pakistan in July. (File)

According to Live Hindustan, Anju returned to India through the Wagah border and was taken to a Border Security Force camp where she was interrogated. She could also be taken to New Delhi for further interrogation.

Anju had travelled to Pakistan via the Wagah-Attari border on a Pakistani visa to meet 29-year-old Nasarullah of the Upper Dir district of Khyber. She had reportedly married Nasarullah and converted to Islam and was known as Fatima.

Read | Anju who went to Pakistan dials her father, says nikah news rumour

After news of her marriage in Pakistan emerged, Arvind Kumar, her Bhiwadi-based husband of 10 years, filed a case under sections 366 (kidnapping woman to compel her to marry), 494 (marrying another person without divorcing the previous partner), 500 (defamation) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code.

In October, reports emerged that Anju was planning a visit home to meet her two children, a 15-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.

At the time, a senior police officer in Rajasthan’s Bhiwadi had told HT that Anju and Kumar would be interrogated when she returned to the district to meet her children.

“A formal interrogation will be conducted with both Anju and (her husband) Arvind once she returns to India,” Bhiwadi Superintendent of Police (SP) Yogesh Dadhich had told HT.

Nasarullah, her purported husband in Pakistan, said that Anju aka Fatima had sought approval from the government for the trip to Rajasthan.

“We are waiting for the NOC (No-Objection Certificate) from the interior ministry in Islamabad for which we have already applied. The NOC process is a bit lengthy and it takes time to complete,” Nasarullah told a news agency in Pakistan.

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HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

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