Dalit Hindu student raped in Bareilly after Muslim youth poses as Hindu using false name, kalava and tilak to conceal identity
Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India 
26 May, 2026
Case Summary
A Dalit Hindu student pursuing a BA first year at Government College, Faridpur, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, was raped by a Muslim youth named Asif Qureshi, who concealed his Muslim identity by presenting himself as "Ashish." He was wearing a kalava [a sacred Hindu thread tied on the wrist during Hindu religious rituals] and applying a tilak [a sacred mark on the forehead as an expression of Hindu devotional identity] to maintain his false Hindu appearance. He made a marriage promise to the girl and subsequently took her to a hotel where he raped her. The girl discovered his true Muslim identity during the incident. As per details, Asif Qureshi, a resident of Faridpur, Bareilly, established contact with the Dalit Hindu student during her college commute. He introduced himself as "Ashish" and reinforced his false Hindu identity by wearing a kalava and applying a tilak. He made a marriage promise to gain her trust. He subsequently took her to a hotel on the highway near Navdiya Ashok village, where he raped her. He had booked the hotel room using a forged Aadhaar card, which was subsequently seized by the police. During the incident, the girl discovered Asif's true identity as a Muslim. Immediately after leaving the hotel, she went home, informed her family, and accompanied them to the police station to file a complaint. Police arrested Asif Qureshi and sent the girl for medical examination. CO Ashutosh Shivam confirmed that police were interrogating the accused. It was also confirmed that Asif was a butcher by profession. The forged Aadhaar card used to book the hotel room was seized as evidence.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
The primary category for this case is "Crimes against women in relationships and other sexual crimes". The sub-category for this case is "Man pretends to be Hindu". The tertiary categories here are "Name changed", "Wears symbols of Hinduism" and "Raped and/or murdered after Hindu woman finds out real identity". When a non-Hindu man pretends to be a Hindu to deceive a Hindu woman into a relationship, the act is seen as triggered by malafide intentions. In some cases, the woman eventually accepts the man’s original religious identity and converts after the man’s identity is revealed. These cases could be argued as cases of religious brainwashing and a result of the pressure a woman feels after getting into a relationship with a man. The woman, it can be argued, also changed her religious identity because of the stigma she believes she might face if she chooses to walk out of a deceptive relationship. However, for the purpose of documenting hate crimes, the cases in this subcategory are limited to those where there is explicit violence aimed at religious conversion against the wishes of the victim (force-feeding beef, blackmailing with intimate videos, rape on refusal to convert, etc), or if the woman herself complains of the man’s religious deception. In such cases, it is established that the deception of the non-Hindu man had a specific aim of religious conversion or targeting of the victim due to her Hindu religious identity, therefore, making it a religiously motivated hate crime. Asif Qureshi did not approach the Dalit Hindu student as himself. He constructed a completely false Hindu identity, introducing himself as "Ashish," wearing a kalava on his wrist, and applying a tilak to his forehead. Each of these elements was deliberately chosen. The act of assuming a false religious identity to deceive and manipulate someone into a relationship is inherently malicious. It undermines the victim's right to make informed decisions about their relationships, especially those that involve significant cultural and religious dimensions. This type of exploitation, particularly when it involves religious deception, highlights a profound disrespect for the victim's faith and autonomy. It is a deliberate and calculated attempt to exert control over her, using religion as a tool of manipulation and domination. The kalava and tilak are not neutral accessories. They are sacred Hindu devotional markers whose presence on a person signals Hindu religious identity to a Hindu observer. Asif Qureshi wore them specifically because he understood that a Dalit Hindu student would not have engaged with him had she known his true identity as a Muslim butcher. The false name, the kalava, and the tilak together constituted a complete and deliberate performance of Hindu identity designed to exploit the religious trust of a Hindu woman. This indicated a premeditated intent to manipulate her based on her religious background. In cases like these, the tactic of adopting a false Hindu identity to manipulate and "ensnare" a Hindu individual is not just an act of personal betrayal but can also be interpreted as an expression of disdain or disregard for Hinduism and its customs that reflects a deeper animosity towards Hindus and their beliefs, and this is why this case has been added here. Disclaimer: The exact date on which the incident occurred was not confirmed in the source. The tracker records incident dates based on when the crime occurred rather than when it was reported or published. However, in this case, 27 May 2026 has been used as the indicative incident date, with the publication date as the earliest available reference point, since the exact date of the incident was not confirmed in the source. This date has been recorded for documentation purposes only.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 1
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 1
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 0
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 1
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 0
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
