Khandwa: Tension gripped the Harsud region after the suspicious death of a young Scheduled Caste woman, allegedly harassed for marriage and religious conversion by Arbaaz Shah. Following widespread outrage, the administration on Thursday demolished the illegal homes of the accused and his uncle using bulldozers under heavy police deployment.
According to the victim’s family, Arbaaz had been pressuring the woman for a relationship and marriage for several years. They alleged he repeatedly harassed her through calls and messages, and after she turned 18, the pressure intensified. The family claimed that due to Arbaaz’s continued intimidation, the marriage they had arranged for her fell apart, leaving her mentally distressed. A day after a heated confrontation on 28 October 2025, the woman consumed poison and died during treatment on 29 October.
News of her death sparked massive protests. Locals gathered outside Harsud police station, blocked roads, and demanded immediate arrest. Police eventually apprehended Arbaaz after a brief period of absconding and booked him under the MP Religious Freedom Act, 2021 and multiple IPC sections. His relatives were also taken into judicial custody.
Following demands from several Hindu organisations, the administration verified irregularities in the houses of Arbaaz and his uncle Aashiq Shah. After confirming illegal construction, both structures were demolished, with officials stating the action serves as a strong deterrent against criminal activities.
