A major illegal religious conversion racket has been uncovered in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, with Hindu girls as the primary targets. The perpetrators allegedly used deceit, allurements, and pressure to convert them to Islam. Investigating agencies suspect links to terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and ISIS.
The racket came to light after 21-year-old Srishti from Dehradun, renamed Maryam by the gang, shared her ordeal, revealing the entire network and its tactics. Speaking to sources, she detailed how the gang operated and identified key members involved.
Agra Police carried out raids across seven states, arresting 11 accused, including the alleged mastermind Abdul Rehman Qureshi and Ayesha alias Krishna. Srishti’s account has been central in exposing the gang’s strategies, recruitment methods, and suspected foreign funding.
Srishti’s Ordeal: How the Trap Began on Facebook
Srishti, a 21-year-old from Dehradun, fell into the conversion racket in 2020. Recalling her experience, she said, “It started when a man named Mutalib contacted me on Facebook. He first built a friendship and gradually began sharing details about Islam, sparking my curiosity.”
To gain her trust, Mutalib introduced Srishti to his sisters, Sumaiya and Shafia. Soon after, she was connected to Ayesha and Abdul Rehman in Delhi, deeper into the network.
Police investigations revealed that the racket primarily targeted vulnerable girls through social media, especially Facebook, and gaming apps like Ludo. Victims, often from financially or emotionally fragile backgrounds, were first befriended and then radicalised using Islamic videos, propaganda materials, and voice notes.
Srishti Speaks Out: Lured with Promises, Pressured to Convert and Marry
Srishti revealed that she was added to WhatsApp groups where individuals like Javed, Abdul Rehman alias Rupendra Pratap, and another Abdul Rehman from Delhi repeatedly pressured her to convert to Islam and agree to marriage.
Offered a Better Life as Bait
She said Ayesha targeted her financial struggles, asking about her home conditions and then offering a better life in return for conversion. “Ayesha told me that if I accepted Islam and agreed to become someone’s second, third, or fourth wife, I would get a better house, security, and money,” Srishti recalled. “She made it clear that any help would come only if I accepted their terms.”
ये देहरादून की सृष्टि हैं। इन्होंने आगरा के धर्मांतरण रैकेट के पूरे संगठित काम के बारे में बताया है। आयशा से लेकर अब्दुल रहमान तक, कैसे हिंदू लड़कियों को शिकार बनाते हैं। कैसे उन्हें घरों से गायब करवाते हैं कि वो पुलिस के हाथ न चढ़ें, हर बात का ब्यौरा है। ये आँखें खोलने वाला है। pic.twitter.com/5TImmvlhoK
— Shravan Shukla ePatrakaar (@epatrakaar) July 26, 2025
According to police, the group systematically lured girls with false promises of financial aid and security. Refusing marriage meant no support. Srishti was introduced to several men who emphasised that embracing Islamic practices and marrying under their terms were mandatory.
The investigation further revealed that girls were first mentally conditioned. They were given Islamic names, made to recite the Kalma, wear hijabs, and follow religious norms. Srishti’s name was changed to Maryam, and she was instructed to record voice notes declaring her commitment to Islam. These recordings, as Srishti confirmed, were then used to solicit foreign funds for the racket.
Racket’s Strategy: How girls were taken away from their homes
A key part of the racket involved carefully orchestrated plans to get girls to leave their homes unnoticed. Srishti shared, “Ayan from Jharkhand told me that if I wanted to run away, I had to reach a specific chowk in Dehradun alone. From there, a cab would pick me up and take me to Delhi. After a 10 to 12-hour journey, a boy in Delhi would drop me at a ‘safe place.’”
To erase her digital footprint, Srishti was told to destroy her phone and SIM card. Ayesha then handed her a second-hand keypad phone and a fake SIM, along with Rs 4,000 to Rs 5,000 in cash, ensuring her identity and location remained untraceable.
Srishti said, “They taught me how to break my phone and submerge it in water to avoid being tracked. I followed their instructions, but at the last moment, I got scared and didn’t leave home. After that, they cut off all support.”
When she refused to run away, Abdul Rehman (alias Rupendra) began pressuring her to agree to become a third or fourth wife, warning that no help would be provided otherwise. Srishti stood her ground and rejected the demand. The group then told her their resources had been redirected to another girl who had agreed to go with them.
Racket Funded by Multiple Countries
Agra Police investigation uncovered that the racket received funding from the US, Canada, London, and Dubai. Srishti revealed, “A boy, who was Ayesha’s fund manager, asked me to write my entire story to post on social media to raise funds. He also shared stories of other girls.”
These stories and voice notes were circulated internationally to showcase forced conversions from Hinduism to Islam, which helped generate donations. Police found that Abdul Rehman’s nephew managed funds coming from London.
The racket operated similarly to ISIS, with distinct modules for fundraising, radicalisation, and concealing girls while arranging their nikah after conversion. Authorities also suspect links to PFI and terror groups based in Pakistan.
Role of Jihadi Teacher Ayesha
Ayesha, also known as Krishna, was a crucial link in the racket. Srishti revealed, “Ayesha targeted girls over 18 and brainwashed them by preaching jihad. She used multiple phone numbers and bought second-hand phones to avoid detection.” Ayesha was arrested in Goa, and her phone contained jihadist videos and propaganda material.
Ayesha not only radicalised the girls but also helped them hide their identities by providing fake SIM cards and phones. Srishti said, “I was taught to break my phone and submerge it in water before leaving home. Although I was given a fake SIM, I refused to leave.”
Agra Police Crackdown and Srishti’s Crucial Testimony
The racket was exposed after two sisters went missing from Sadar Bazar Police Station in Agra in March 2025. The police rescued the girls from Kolkata and, with cyber cell assistance, uncovered the network. A 100-member team led by Commissioner Deepak Kumar conducted raids across seven states—Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, West Bengal, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Jharkhand—arresting 11 accused, including Abdul Rehman Qureshi, Ayesha, Mohammad Ali, and Osama.
During the raids, police seized conversion-related books and propaganda materials by Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui from Abdul Rehman’s house. Srishti’s testimony exposed every key member. She shared, “I was forced to recite the Kalma, adopt an Islamic name, and send a voice note declaring myself a staunch Muslim wanting to migrate (Hijrat). This note was used to raise foreign funds.”
Dangerous Sleeper Cells Active Across States
Police traced dozens of girls linked to the racket across seven states. Many were so deeply radicalised that counselling proved ineffective. Disturbingly, a photo surfaced of one victim holding an AK-47, suggesting the gang’s intent to prepare girls not just for conversion but also for terrorist activities.
Srishti said, “I escaped, but many girls remain trapped. I want people to understand this conspiracy and avoid falling into such traps.” Her testimony has been vital in dismantling the racket and helping locate missing girls.
The exposure of this Agra conversion racket has revealed a dangerous sleeper cell network operating nationwide. Using social media, foreign funding, and organised modules, the gang targeted Hindu girls systematically. Thanks to Srishti’s courage and swift police action, this conspiracy has come to light.
UP ATS and police are now investigating other network members and funding sources. This case serves as a stark warning for society to stay vigilant on social media and resist deceptive tactics.
