In the Dabra region of Gwalior district, Madhya Pradesh, a Muslim youth, Armaan Khan, has been accused of sexually exploiting a Hindu girl, blackmailing her for years, and attempting to force her to convert to Islam. The accused reportedly recorded an obscene video of the victim and used it to coerce her into submission for over five years.
According to the police report, the accused befriended the 25-year-old woman through social media five years ago. He invited her to meet him in person, where he allegedly spiked her cold drink during the meeting. The victim claimed she lost consciousness, and upon regaining her senses, discovered that Armaan had filmed her in a compromising state. Using the video as leverage, he threatened to expose her to her family if she did not comply with his demands.
This marked the beginning of prolonged abuse, with Armaan reportedly blackmailing the woman to meet him repeatedly. Over time, he began pressuring her to embrace Islam. When she objected, the situation escalated, and the accused, along with his uncle Zahid Khan, allegedly attempted to kidnap her.
On January 6, Armaan Khan allegedly coerced the victim to meet him again. During this encounter, he intensified his efforts to force her to convert to Islam. The victim was taken to Samudan village on Gwalior Road, where Zahid Khan joined them. Together, they allegedly threatened her with dire consequences if she refused to convert.
Fearing for her life, the woman managed to escape. She sought help from passersby and contacted the police through the Dial 100 emergency service. She was promptly taken to the Dabra City Police Station, where she narrated her ordeal.
Based on her complaint, the police registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Armaan Khan and Zahid Khan under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Armaan was arrested, while efforts to apprehend Zahid are ongoing. Superintendent of Police Niranjan Sharma confirmed the allegations, stating, “The victim has charged Armaan Khan with persistent exploitation and attempts to forcibly convert her. A case has been registered, and further investigation is underway.”
The incident has sparked outrage, with representatives from Hindu organisations visiting the police station to demand stringent action against the accused. Awadhesh Singh, a local activist, expressed grave concerns about individuals from specific communities targeting Hindu women for exploitation and conversion.
“There are numerous gangs operating in Gwalior that lure Hindu women into romantic deceptions with the intent to convert them. We have raised this issue with the authorities and demanded immediate and decisive action,” Singh stated.
This case sheds light on an alarming pattern of romantic exploitation being linked to religious conversions.
