Guwahati: On September 3, 2023, a video surfaced on social media featuring Dr. Alima Akhtar, a female doctor from Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh. In the video, she described how her family was threatening her with death due to her voluntary conversion to Hinduism. Dr. Akhtar also revealed that her family was attempting to arrange her marriage to a much older Maulana, a prospect she vehemently opposed. As the video gained viral attention on the internet, Assam's Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma, took action by instructing Assam's Director General of Police to conduct a thorough investigation and take appropriate legal measures.

Dr. Alima Akhtar stated in her video, "My name is Dr. Alima Akhtar, and I am recording this statement from an airport. You can see that I am in a secure environment with security personnel around me. However, the problem I face is that my family has issued death threats against me. This is because I made two choices they do not approve of. Firstly, I converted to the Hindu faith, which has led many family members to threaten my life. I receive death threats regularly, and I consider it my fundamental right to be free from such threats."

Take action as per Law after a proper enquiry @gpsinghips https://t.co/JTLLjW25jW

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) September 3, 2023

She continued, "The second issue is that my family has falsely accused me of kidnapping and filed a case against me. They have done this with the intention of having the police apprehend me and return me to them, after which they intend to forcibly marry me to a Maulana. They believe that if I marry an older Maulana, I will secure a place in Jannat in the afterlife and avoid Jahannum. I strongly disagree with this, which is why I have distanced myself from them."

Dr. Akhtar emphasized, "I do not wish to return because I refuse to be forcibly married to a Maulana. The kidnapping case against me is baseless. As you can see, I am safe and moving freely. I have chosen to stay away from those individuals to live a peaceful life and focus on my studies. This is my only 'mistake' for which my family members wish to harm me." She appealed to the Assam Police for assistance, urging them to take action and address the situation appropriately.

After a popular Assamese Twitter user, @SouleFacts, shared the video and requested the DGP to take action in accordance with the law, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma acknowledged the matter and ordered prompt action. He expressed his support for Dr. Akhtar and directed Assam Police DGP GP Singh to initiate action while also calling for a comprehensive investigation into the incident. This incident highlights the importance of protecting an individual's freedom to choose their faith and live without fear of threats or coercion from family members.

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