A fraudulent marriage attempt at a mandir was foiled in Pratapgarh district when a pujari exposed a Muslim man posing as a Hindu to trap a young woman in marriage with an alleged aim of religious conversion. The accused, 45-year-old Matloob Ahmed, was arrested on the spot from the Belha Devi mandir premises following a timely intervention by the pujari.
Suspicious ceremony
The incident unfolded on July 12, around 11:30 am, when pujari Mangal Prasad, head of the Belha Devi mandir, was conducting his usual inspection around the ghat. He spotted a middle-aged man and a woman in her early twenties performing a garland exchange ritual, a key part of Hindu marriages.
Noticing the visible age gap, the pujari grew suspicious and began questioning the pair. The girl, a resident of Malaka, Prayagraj, said the man was her neighbour. The man introduced himself as ‘Rajeev’, a fellow Hindu.
But when the pujari demanded identification, he discovered that Rajeev was actually Matloob Ahmed, a resident of Prayagraj. He had smeared chandan on his forehead and donned Hindu attire to mislead the woman and temple authorities.
False identity, hidden intentions
Further investigation revealed that Matloob and the young woman had been in contact for over a year. According to the woman’s statement, Matloob never disclosed his true religion, introducing himself as a Hindu bachelor named Rajeev and assuring her of marriage according to Hindu customs.
She also alleged that after the marriage, he planned to coerce her into converting to Islam. Unaware of his real identity, she had agreed to marry him in the temple, hoping for a traditional Hindu union.
Immediate police action
Upon discovering the deception, pujari Mangal Prasad immediately informed the Bhuliyapur police outpost, which sent officers, including women constables, to the mandir. Both the accused and the woman were taken to the Kotwali police station.
Following the pujari’s formal complaint, an FIR was registered under Sections 299 (cheating/fraud) and 287 (negligent conduct) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Circle Officer Anuj Mishra confirmed the registration of the case and stated that the police are probing further into Matloob’s background and his motives.
Already married twice, targeted a younger girl
During questioning, police discovered that Matloob Ahmed had already been married twice and currently works as a puncture repairman on a roadside in Prayagraj. He reportedly chose the secluded Belha Devi mandir to solemnise the marriage, hoping that the remote location would allow him to evade scrutiny.
He carefully constructed his Hindu persona to win over the victim’s trust and avoid detection, but the temple priest’s alertness foiled the plan.
Woman handed over to family
The woman, devastated upon learning of Matloob’s real identity, was safely handed over to her family. Police officials assured that the matter is being thoroughly investigated and religious conversion motives are being verified.
Locals and temple visitors praised the presence of mind shown by priest Mangal Prasad, calling him a “guardian of dharma” who prevented a possible forced conversion and protected the dignity of the temple.
The case has sparked a debate on rising incidents of identity-based religious grooming in Uttar Pradesh. Activists and legal experts have reiterated the importance of implementing anti-conversion laws effectively and increasing awareness among youth.
As of now, Matloob Ahmed remains in police custody, and further legal action will be taken as per findings.
This incident follows closely on the heels of multiple recent arrests in Shahjahanpur, Hardoi, and Balrampur, where Muslim men used fake Hindu identities to lure and exploit Hindu women, often with the intent of forced conversion, raising fresh concerns over systemic grooming networks operating in the state.
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