Guwahati, 26th March: Amidst preparations for her marriage to Kashmiri Muslim man Waseem Raja Mughal, Mumbai-based disc jockey Damini Bhajanka, also known as DJ Dionne, went missing, sparking concerns over familial interference to thwart the inter-faith union.
Her partner, Waseem Raja Mughal, tirelessly searched for the 27-year-old for three months, filing police reports and petitioning the Gauhati High Court for habeas corpus. Bhajanka’s disappearance took a sinister turn when she was allegedly confined to a rehabilitation center in Guwahati by her family members, who opposed her planned marriage.
Upon her rescue from a resort in Shillong on March 12, Bhajanka accused her family of kidnapping and confinement for three months, citing their opposition to her relationship with Mughal. Despite her distress, Bhajanka’s family coerced her into recording a video claiming she stayed with them willingly, aiming to avoid legal repercussions.
Mughal’s efforts to seek assistance from authorities initially faced resistance, with Assam police dismissing the matter as a “family issue.” However, following Bhajanka’s rescue, the couple proceeded with their marriage in Mumbai on March 21, determined to pursue legal action until justice is served.
The circumstances surrounding Bhajanka’s ordeal underscore the challenges individuals face in asserting autonomy against familial pressures, prompting a broader conversation about the protection of individual rights and freedoms.