Religious conversion angle emerges in Gujarat sexual assault investigation

Junagadh police have expanded their investigation into an alleged sexual assault case to include charges related to religious conversion, officials said on Thursday. According to police statements, the accused allegedly induced the victim to convert to Islam by offering to resolve her health problems and personal difficulties. Investigators recovered a burqa, Islamic religious literature, and prayer materials from the residence during their search operations. The police department has constituted a five-member special investigation team and added charges under the state's anti-conversion legislation to the case file. The development represents an emerging angle in the inquiry, with authorities now examining whether religious conversion was connected to the alleged assault. Officials said further investigation is underway to establish the complete sequence of events and the roles of all individuals involved in the case.