In the early hours of January 10, a 17-year-old Hindu girl from Kithore, Meerut, was lured and abducted by Rashid, a self-proclaimed Muslim occult practitioner. An FIR has been registered at the Kithore police station based on a complaint by the girl’s father. The incident has sparked outrage among locals, with demands for strict action against the accused.
The girl’s father reported that she went missing around 4 AM when the family was asleep. A local witness informed the family that the girl was seen leaving with Rashid, a resident of Bahroda village and a father of six. The family discovered that the girl had taken Rs 5.93 lakh in cash, eight tolas of gold jewelry, and expensive clothing. Rashid, the prime accused, reportedly has a criminal past, including a jail term for murder.
The victim’s father expressed fears for his daughter’s safety, urging the police to act. On January 11, villagers staged a protest at the SSP office, accusing the police of inaction.
Meerut SP (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra confirmed that an FIR has been filed, and three individuals, including Rashid’s brother and two women from his family, have been arrested. Speaking to the media, Mishra stated, “Efforts are underway to locate the girl and apprehend the accused. Two police teams have been deployed, and surveillance has provided some leads.”
To maintain law and order in the village, additional police personnel, including PAC forces, have been stationed. The police have assured the family of prompt action and the safe recovery of the girl.
The FIR, accessed by Organiser, was registered under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The victim’s father detailed the abduction, citing that Rashid had manipulated the minor girl into leaving with him. A witness corroborated this account, having seen the two leaving together early in the morning.
‘Tantrik Abducts Minor Girl’ reads the news headline with an image featuring a Hindu puja and a man with a mala in black dress, who is the ‘Tantrik’ here?
Mohammad Rashid
Rashid, a father of five, manipulated a 17-year-old Hindu girl to elope with him. He had managed to… pic.twitter.com/HBUaGZrr77
— Subhi Vishwakarma (@subhi_karma) January 12, 2025
The abduction has led to significant unrest in the local community. Gurjar activist Nagendra Gurjar Rachauti announced a Rs 50,000 bounty for Rashid, dead or alive, urging the Gurjar community to assist in locating him. In his video statement, Rachauti condemned the act and vowed to bring the accused to justice.
A controversy arose over the terminology used by some media outlets to describe the accused. Multiple outlets, including Aaj Tak, referred to Rashid as a “Tantrik,” a term commonly associated with Hindu practices, despite his Muslim identity. Critics have accused the media of misrepresentation, highlighting a pattern of inaccurately labelling Muslim occult practitioners as “Tantriks” in previous reports.
The incident has raised questions about the safety of minors and the portrayal of cases involving interfaith crimes.
