Kushinagar police have busted a gang allegedly involved in trapping Hindu girls in the guise of “Love Jihad” and forcibly converting them to Islam. A total of eight individuals, including two women, have been arrested in connection with the case.
The arrests were made following a complaint lodged by Sunil Verma, who alleged that his 19-year-old daughter was lured and taken to Amritsar, where she was forcibly converted and kept hidden by a group operating as an organised network.
Acting on the complaint, a joint team of local police and cyber cell launched a search operation and recovered the girl safely on Sunday. Police also recovered two Aadhaar cards-one in her original name, Neha Verma, and another issued in her converted name, Parvani Khatoon — along with 11 SIM cards and nine mobile phones allegedly used in the operation.
Superintendent of Police Santosh Kumar Mishra said, “Complainant Sunil Verma of Mahuawa Buzurg submitted an application saying that his daughter was taken from Amritsar and hidden after being converted by some individuals. This was an organised gang, and eight people have been arrested so far. Ashiq Ansari, Imtiyaz, Mohammad Sahab, among others, gave her a new name after conversion and kept her hidden. Further investigation is ongoing.”
The arrested individuals have been identified as Taufiq Ansari, Ashiq Ansari and his son Imtiyaz, Mohammad Sahab Ansari, Zeeshan Qamar, Mazhar, and two women, Kaiser Jahan and Fatima. According to the police, the accused confessed to being part of a well-organised network that targeted Hindu women for religious conversion.
Officials claimed the gang pursued the victim over a long period, manipulating her through emotional exploitation and inducements, and ultimately coerced her into conversion. They also said Taufiq Ansari used explicit videos and recorded conversations to blackmail the victim’s family.
Kaiser Jahan and Fatima allegedly played a key role in psychologically manipulating the girl, showing her religious content to influence her beliefs.
An FIR has been registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act, 2021. A manhunt is underway to trace other gang members who remain absconding.
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