In a development that has drawn public and official attention in Uttar Pradesh’s Amroha district, a 30-year-old woman who is a mother of three children has converted to Hinduism and entered into matrimony with an 18-year-old male student currently studying in Class 12. The marriage was solemnized in a local temple on Wednesday, as confirmed by law enforcement officials.
According to statements made by Hasanpur Circle Officer Deep Kumar Pant, the woman, who was previously known as Shabnam, has now adopted the Hindu name Shivani following her conversion. Police officials are currently examining the legal and social circumstances surrounding the marriage and conversion, although no formal complaints or legal cases have been registered thus far.
The woman reportedly has no surviving parents and has been married twice before. Her first marriage took place in Meerut, but that union ended in divorce. Subsequently, she married a man named Taufiq, a resident of Saidanwali village. Taufiq was unfortunately rendered physically disabled due to a serious road accident in 2011. The woman had been living with him until recently.
However, over the past few months, Shabnam is said to have developed a romantic relationship with a teenage boy from the same village. The boy is around 18 years old and currently studying in Class 12. Following this development, Shabnam sought a legal separation from her husband, Taufiq, which was granted on the previous Friday. Soon after her divorce, she underwent a religious conversion, embracing Hinduism and changing her name to Shivani. She then married the teenage boy in a temple ceremony.
This case arises in the context of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021—a law that prohibits conversions carried out through force, misrepresentation, coercion, or any form of fraudulent means. The authorities are presently investigating whether the conversion and subsequent marriage were conducted by the law. As per current reports, no allegations of coercion or deception have been made, and the woman appears to have converted of her own volition.
The boy’s father, Dataram Singh, who is also a resident of Saidanwali village, expressed his support for his son’s decision to marry Shivani. Speaking to local reporters, he stated that his family stands by the young couple and only wishes for their well-being. “We support our son’s choice. If they are happy together, that’s what matters to us. Our only hope is that they live together in peace and harmony,” Singh said.
While the police continue to gather more information and assess the legal implications, the case has stirred conversations in the region about personal freedom, age, religion, and marriage norms. The authorities have indicated that any further action will depend on the findings of their review and whether any elements of the anti-conversion law or child protection laws have been violated.