International Love Jihad? Chennai girl abducted in London, forcefully converted to Islam; NIA probes Zakir Naik’s link

The NIA Delhi, has registered a case under eight IPC Sections including conspiracy, criminal intimidation, kidnapping, trafficking and sexual exploitation besides wrongful confinement, extortion attempt and death threats against Nafees, his father Sardar Sha, Khawat Hussain Bakul and Zakir Naik, the controversial Islamic preacher who was in the news for his radical discourse.

According to NIA sources, the girl is presently with a Bangladeshi man Nafees who is part of the gang that has been allegedly luring girls from India and trafficking them. It is not clear if these girls are being trafficked for some other purpose and to which country.

The victim had gone to London for higher studies where she fell into the trap of the gang, which is apparently very active there. “The family came to know that the girl was radicalised and later converted to Islam by the gang, which has reportedly asked for ransom from the family to release her,” an NIA source said.

The case was initially registered by the Chennai Crime branch in May this year on the complaint of a Chennai-based businessman who alleged that her daughter who was studying in London was abducted by Bangladeshi nationals.

It was taken up by the Chennai Central Crime branch on May 28 this year amid the lockdown but was quickly taken over by NIA based on an order from the Home Ministry.

Investigations are under way to nab Nafees, who is allegedly the son of a politician in Bangladesh, and his associates. The NIA is also probing the possible involvement of a fundamentalist group in the abduction.

The girl, who went to London for higher studies allegedly fell into the trap of the gang, which is very active there.