Mumbai : A case of alleged religious conversion on the pretext of marriage has come to light in Mumbai, where a 22-year-old woman was allegedly persuaded to convert from Hinduism to Islam after being promised marriage and financial assistance, officials said on Tuesday. The Meghwadi Police have registered an FIR against the accused, identified as Faiz Akbar Khan, under the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026. The incident occurred in the Amina Nagar area of Mumbai’s Jogeshwari East. According to the police, the complaint was filed by the mother of the woman. In her complaint, she alleged that Faiz Akbar Khan befriended her daughter and convinced her to change her religion by assuring her that he would marry her and provide financial support.

The complainant further alleged that the accused had told her daughter, “If you change your religion, I will marry you.” On October 18, the 22-year-old reportedly went missing from her residence, following which a kidnapping complaint was lodged at the Virar Police Station.Two days later, on October 20, the woman allegedly sent her mother a certificate of a court marriage solemnised at the Bandra Court, adding another development to the case. The matter took a further turn on October 24, when the accused allegedly sent a wedding invitation card to the WhatsApp number of the woman’s brother.

The invitation carried the names “Mohammad Faiz weds Shravani (Ayesha)” and mentioned November 6, 2026, as the scheduled date of the wedding. Citing the wedding invitation as evidence, the woman’s mother alleged that her daughter had been subjected to religious conversion under the pretext of marriage. She approached the police with her complaint, following which the Meghwadi Police registered a case against the accused under Section 9(1) of the Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Act, 2026. The police have initiated an investigation to examine the allegations and establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged conversion and marriage. The case has been registered as FIR No. 0587/2026 at the Meghwadi Police Station. Sub-Inspector Indrajit Nemane has been assigned to the investigation and is currently probing the matter.

Further details are awaited.

Mumbai : A 16-year-old boy died after a fire broke out at a firecracker shop in Mumbai’s Malvani area late Monday night, triggering an explosion that led to the collapse of the shop’s slab, officials said.

The incident took place at around 9.56 p.m. on November 9 at a ground-floor shop near Gate No. 8 on Abdul Hamid Marg in Malad West. Six fire brigade vehicles were rushed to the spot after information about the blaze was received, and firefighting operations were launched.

According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB), the fire was confined to firecrackers, electrical wiring and electrical installations inside the shop, which measured approximately 20 feet by 30 feet.

The situation worsened following an explosion of firecrackers, which caused the slab of the shop to collapse.

During the incident, a 16-year-old boy, who had initially been reported missing, was subsequently found dead inside the shop. His body was severely charred due to the fire.

The deceased was identified as Shanwaz Niyaz Khan, aged 16. He was taken to BMC’s Shatabdi Hospital in an ambulance. According to information received from the concerned Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of BDBA Hospital, Kandivali, he had suffered 100 per cent burns and was declared brought dead.

The fire was successfully extinguished at 10.36 p.m. on November 9, according to the fire brigade’s incident update issued at 1.22 a.m. on Tuesday.

Teams from the Mumbai Fire Brigade, police, the concerned electricity distribution company, 108 ambulance services and BMC ward staff were mobilised to manage the situation and carry out the necessary operations.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns over fire safety during the festive season, particularly in areas where firecrackers are stored and sold.

Earlier, fire services in Pune and Mumbai were stretched during Diwali celebrations, with both cities reporting a large number of fire incidents.

Pune recorded 94 fire incidents during Laxmipujan, while Mumbai reported 142 blazes during Diwali, of which 137 were attributed to firecrackers, according to figures released by the respective fire departments.

In Pune, fires were reported from several locations, including Satara Road, Mangalwar Peth and Range Hills. A major fire broke out at a printing shop on Satara Road, while a godown caught fire in Mangalwar Peth. Another fire was reported in a residential flat in Range Hills, prompting a response from fire brigade teams and police personnel.

Meanwhile, Mumbai’s 142 fire incidents were reported from different parts of the city during Diwali. Despite the large number of fire-related emergency calls, no injuries were reported in those incidents, according to the Mumbai Fire Brigade.

Ghaziabad : A massive fire broke out at a shop near Dasna Gate in Ghaziabad late Monday night, triggering panic in the area. The fire, which erupted near Chaupala Temple, quickly spread to the goods stored inside the shop. The prompt response of the fire brigade prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby commercial establishments and averted a potential major tragedy. The shop reportedly contained a large quantity of plates, bowls and other items. Several gas cylinders were also stored inside the premises, raising concerns about a possible explosion. The presence of several other commercial establishments, including sweet shops, in the vicinity further heightened the risk of the fire spreading. According to information received, at around 12:08 a.m. on Tuesday, the Fire Station Kotwali under the Ghaziabad Commissionerate received information about a fire at a shop near Chaupala Temple in the Dasna Gate area.

Acting swiftly, the fire officer immediately rushed to the spot with two fire tenders. Upon reaching the location, firefighters found that the shop was locked and flames had engulfed a substantial portion of the goods stored inside. Assessing the seriousness of the situation, the firefighting personnel broke open the shop’s lock to gain access. Their priority was to remove the gas cylinders stored inside to prevent a possible explosion and avert a major accident. After safely taking out the cylinders, the firefighters launched an intensive operation, spraying water through hose pipes to extinguish the flames. The team carried out coordinated firefighting operations to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading to adjoining shops. Given the presence of several commercial establishments, including a sweet shop, in the immediate vicinity, the firefighters took extra precautions while carrying out the operation.

Their timely intervention ensured that the flames did not reach the neighbouring properties. Within a short time, the fire brigade personnel brought the blaze completely under control, preventing further damage and saving the surrounding shops from being affected. Local police personnel and a large number of residents were also present at the scene during the operation. The prompt action by the fire department not only helped protect the property of neighbouring shopkeepers but also prevented a potentially serious incident by ensuring the safe removal of the gas cylinders before they could explode. Following the successful firefighting operation, the situation in the area returned to normal.

No further spread of the fire to nearby establishments was reported.