A married Indian woman who travelled legally to a remote village in Pakistan to meet her Facebook friend has reportedly converted to Islam in order to marry her friend. The dramatic U-turn came a day after 34-year-old Anju, who was born in Kailor village in Uttar Pradesh and lived in the Alwar district of Rajasthan, denied media reports of having any love affairs with Nasrulla, 29.
According to the report, the newlyweds made a TikTok video where the couple can be seen enjoying the weather at Deerbala's tourist spots Lowari Tunnel, Hill Park and Deer City. A video of the same also went viral on social media platforms.
Nasrulla and Anju became friends on Facebook in 2019. "Anju is on a visit to Pakistan and we have no plan to marry," Nasrulla had told PTI over the phone from village Kulsho in the district, some 300 km from Peshawar.
Dramatic U-turn
"She will go back to her country on August 20 after her visa expires," he said, adding that "Anju is living in a separate room of his home with the other female members of my family," he said.
However, in a dramatic turn, Malakand Division Deputy Inspector General Nasir Mehmood Satti confirmed the nikkah of Anju, and Nasrullah saying that the woman has taken the name of Fatima after conversion to Islam, Geo News reported. He further stated that the Indian woman has been shifted to home from the court under police security.
The couple recorded the statement under Section 164, saying they signed the nikkah of their own will.
Who is Anju?
Anju has travelled to the Upper Dir district of Pakistan's tribal Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on a valid Pakistani visa of Pakistan's to meet Nasrulla. According to an official document of the Ministry of Interior sent to Pakistan’s High Commission in New Delhi, the chancery was informed that it had been decided to grant a 30-day visa to Anju, valid for Upper Dir only.
Nasrullah, a science graduate from a University in Sheringal, is the youngest among five brothers. He has given an affidavit to local authorities, stating that there is no love angle to their friendship, and Anju will return to India on August 20. The affidavit also states that she will not move out of the Upper Dir district. "She will definitely go back on August 20 as per her visa documents," said police officer Mushtaq.
District Police Officer Mushtaq interviewed Anju in his office on Sunday and checked her travel documents on the basis of which a no-objection certificate was issued to her. Nasrullah said they have been provided adequate security by the district administration and Anju is safe and sound with his family.
(With inputs from agency)
