RANGAMATI, June 12, (V7N– Police have rescued a young woman who had converted to Islam from a Sanatan Rishi Ashram in the Bangalhaliya area under Chandraghona police station in Rangamati. The rescue took place on Thursday afternoon following a search warrant from the court and a police requisition from the concerned police station.
According to sources, the matter came to light after allegations emerged that Tanni De Ripanna (21), originally from Sadar Hindupara in Alikadam upazila of Bandarban — who had adopted the name 'Ayesha Siddika Zara' after converting to Islam — was being held in the ashram. Law enforcement agencies then conducted a raid and rescued her as per court instructions.
Chandraghona Police Station Officer-in-Charge Md. Saker Ahmed said the rescued girl's home is in the Eidgaon Police Station area of Cox's Bazar district. A search warrant was issued by the Cox's Bazar court in favor of Eidgaon Police Station. Based on that warrant and the requisition of Eidgaon Police Station, Chandraghona Police conducted the raid and rescued the girl.
The rescued young woman claimed that she voluntarily converted to Islam on March 1. However, her mother said that family members had brought her to the Bangalhaliya Rishi Ashram a few days ago for religious initiation. A sage at the ashram stated that the girl had been staying there for about two months, adding, "I did not know that she had converted to Islam. Her parents brought her here."
After the incident, tension arose in the area, but police led by OC Md. Saker Ahmed reached the spot and brought the situation under control. The girl has been brought to the police station to be handed over to Eidgaon Police Station for further legal proceedings. Authorities are now seriously investigating the matter by verifying the statements of all parties involved.
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