In an encounter with police in Uttar Pradesh’s Kannauj district, a man named Imran, accused of trapping and coercing Hindu minor girls into religious conversion, was arrested. The accused, 25-year-old Imran, received a gunshot wound in his right leg during an exchange of fire with a joint team of Talgram Police and the Special Operations Group (SOG) on October 26.
According to officials, the police were tracking Imran for several days following a complaint by the family of a 16-year-old girl who accused him of luring her into a relationship, abducting her and attempting to force her conversion. The police surrounded Imran near Tahpur village when he opened fire, prompting retaliation. He was later taken to Tirwa Medical College for treatment. A country-made .315 bore pistol, one empty cartridge, and two live rounds were recovered from his possession by the police.
पुलिस अधीक्षक कन्नौज विनोद कुमार के निर्देशन में थाना तालग्राम पुलिस, एसओजी की संयुक्त कार्यवाही में धर्म परिवर्तन कर शादी का दबाव बनाने व मना करने पर छात्रा का फोटो वायरल करने वाला अभियुक्त पुलिस मुठभेड में घायल/ गिरफ्तार। कब्जे से 01 तमंचा 315 बोर , 01 खोखा कारतूस व 02 जिंदा… pic.twitter.com/hdbTpXbJJC
— kannauj police (@kannaujpolice) October 28, 2025
Case of Kidnapping
The case dates back to October 13, 2025, when Imran is said to have befriended a Class 12 student from the locality and took her away under false pretences. According to the complaint, he forced her to wear a burqa, clicked her photos and videos, and pressured her to convert to Islam and marry him.
Despite her return, Imran continued to harass and threaten the girl over the phone. In a shocking act of intimidation, he uploaded a picture of her wearing a burqa on Instagram, captioned “Happy Wedding Anniversary,” implying a fabricated marriage.
The incident caused panic and outrage in the locality. A complaint was filed by the girl’s family following which an FIR was registered under the relevant sections of the BNS and POCSO Act.
The girl’s mother in her FIR said, “Imran trapped my daughter with the help of a Muslim girl. He abducted my daughter on Oct 23 and pressured her for religious conversion. He also made her wear a burqa and uploaded the photo on social media”
Pattern of Targeting Hindu Girls
In this connection, the investigations have revealed that Imran, who worked in a private hospital in Tahpur village, had allegedly targeted several Hindu girls in the past. According to the victim’s mother, Imran used a Muslim woman accomplice to approach Hindu girls, gain their confidence, and then exploit them.
The incriminating videos, photos, and chat records recovered from Imran’s phone point to his involvement in more than one such case, police sources have confirmed.
Police Investigation Underway
Officials said that Imran has been booked under relevant sections dealing with molestation, abduction, cybercrime (IT Act), and sexual offences under the POCSO Act. His digital records are being examined to identify his associates and the possible network involved in such activities. The accused had previously contacted Hindu girls using fake social media profiles, lured them into a relationship with him, and then attempted to either convert or blackmail them.
Public Outrage and Demand for Action
The case has generated widespread outrage in Kannauj and surrounding areas, with residents demanding the most severe punishment for the accused and a detailed investigation into what they termed a “planned network of religious coercion.”
The police have increased patrolling in the sensitive areas and assured the family of the victim of all protection. The incident has again brought to light the serious concerns regarding the grooming and forced conversion tactics against vulnerable girls in smaller towns of Uttar Pradesh.
The police authorities have confirmed that further investigation is underway, and more arrests could follow as evidence is analysed from the accused’s phone and social media accounts.
