Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh, has long been ensnared in the clutches of alleged Islamic jihadists. Cases of ‘Love Jihad’, involving non-Muslim young women being trapped in romantic webs, often through the use of assumed identities or other deceptive means- are surfacing here with alarming frequency. Once again, a case has come to light in the Bagsewaniya area involving the abduction and rape of a minor teenager and a young woman, along with attempts to pressure them into converting their religion.
The police have arrested three accused individuals following allegations that the young women were taken to a hotel located in the Saket Nagar area, where they were subjected to sexual exploitation and pressured to convert. The hotel manager has also been named as an accused in the case after the hotel management’s role was deemed suspicious. Based on the statements provided by the victims, the police have registered a case under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act, the POCSO Act and other serious penal sections.
According to the police, on Wednesday, activists from a Hindu organisation received information that some young men, while concealing their true identities, were staying at a hotel with two young women. Acting on this tip-off, the police arrived at the scene and initiated an investigation. During questioning, the young men were identified as Mohammad Shaif, Wasid and their associate, Anshit.
Shaif Took Her Along Through Coercion and Intimidation
In her statement to the police, the 16-year-old victim stated that she is a resident of the Awadhpuri police station area. According to her account, she received a phone call from Shaif around 8:00 PM, in which he asked her to go out with him. Shaif arrived to pick her up at approximately 9:00 PM. The victim initially refused, but Shaif exerted such intense pressure and intimidation that she eventually agreed to go with him. Subsequently, she was taken to a café within the city, where she met Anshit and Wasid, in addition to the other young woman.
Forced to Drink Beer Despite Refusal
The victim alleges that during this time, she and the other young woman were forcibly made to consume beer. Subsequently, they left that location and traveled by car to other places before being taken to a hotel. Meanwhile, the second minor victim stated in her statement to the police that, throughout the journey, Saif kept urging them to drink beer and forcibly made her and her friend consume it against their will. They were then taken to the SMC Hotel located in Saket Nagar. There, Wasid and Saif spoke with the hotel management and booked rooms.
The victim alleges that the hotel manager allowed her and the other young woman to stay at the hotel without verifying or collecting their identity documents (IDs). The victim further stated that, upon reaching the hotel, Anshit attempted to take her to the second floor. She resisted this attempt and refused to go; however, according to her, Anshit was unwilling to heed her objections. In her statement, the victim has leveled several other serious allegations.
Physical Exploitation Perpetrated Over a Long Period
According to the victim, after reaching the room, Anshit began molesting her friend. Witnessing this, she became terrified and attempted to call Saif to seek help, but her pleas went unheard. In her statement, the victim alleged that Saif used to pressure her to adopt certain religious customs. According to her, Saif would often remark that Muslim girls wear burqas and would insist that she, too, should wear a burqa when meeting him.
According to the victim, Saif would tell her, “You should also start wearing a burqa; I would like that.” The accused also attempted to persuade her to convert her religion. Furthermore, in her statement, the victim alleged that Saif had physically exploited her. The police have incorporated these allegations made by the victim into the official statement and have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter.
In this regard, Jitendra Chauhan, Joint Secretary of the Madhya Bharat Province of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), states that cases of “Love Jihad” have been surfacing continuously in the state capital, Bhopal, for a considerable period. These incidents indicate that alleged Islamic jihadis are systematically ensnaring Hindu girls in their trap. They are physically exploiting minor girls and attempting to convert them. Our demand is that all such crimes must cease.
He added that the strictness demonstrated by the police regarding the repeated use of hotels in the commission of these crimes and the action taken against the hotel in this specific instance- was, in fact, a measure that had long been felt necessary in this region. A common individual cannot stay at a hotel without furnishing proof of identity; yet, in such cases, hotels often fail to even request the necessary identification documents. This criminal activity, which has been allowed to persist until now, must be brought to an end at all costs.
Case Registered Under the Religious Freedom Act as Well
According to police officials, following the victims’ allegations regarding pressure to undergo religious conversion, relevant sections of the Madhya Pradesh Religious Freedom Act have also been invoked. Additionally, a case has been registered under sections pertaining to the POCSO Act, rape, molestation, and other serious offenses.
The police state that the investigation into the case is currently ongoing. The statements of the victims, medical examinations, electronic evidence, call records, and CCTV footage are being scrutinized. All allegations will be substantiated only after the completion of the investigation and the judicial process.
