Hindu woman kidnapped by Muslim man in attempt to forcibly convert to Islam

Case ID : 9958562 | Location : Bettiah, Bihar, India | Date of Incident : Tue, 26 August, 2025

Case ID : 9958562

Bettiah, Bihar, India

26 August, 2025

Hindu woman kidnapped by Muslim man in attempt to forcibly convert to Islam

Undecided cases

Case Summary

A 20-year-old Hindu woman was kidnapped in Bettiah, Bihar by a Muslim man, who did so in an attempt to forcibly convert her to Islam. The incident occurred on August 27, 2025, in Bettiah, where the victim, a second-semester undergraduate student of Ram Lakhan Singh Yadav College, was taken from her home under false pretences by a female acquaintance. An FIR was lodged against six members of a Muslim family, all identified in the complaint, with charges of abduction and threats of violence. According to the complaint filed by the victim’s father, his daughter was regularly visiting the home of her friend, Sana alias Nusrat, over recent months. During this time, Sana’s brother, Sarik alias Janu, groomed the young woman and coerced her into a relationship. On the day of the abduction, Sana arrived at the victim’s home and persuaded her to leave on the pretext of attending college. When the victim woman failed to return home, her family went to question Sana’s family, but were met with abuse and physical threats. They were warned that they would be killed if they returned again. Upon returning home, the family discovered that the victim had taken Rs 50,000 in cash and jewellery worth Rs 3 lakh, including earrings, necklaces, rings, and other items. The victim’s father stated that Sarik alias Janu is a repeat offender with a criminal record, having previously been jailed on charges of molestation and religious frenzy, and was released from prison just days before the abduction. The father expressed certainty that his daughter had been kidnapped as part of a forced religious conversion plot. Police launched an investigation and registered charges against Sarik alias Janu, his sister Sana, brother Mohammad Shanawaz, father Mohammad Naseem, another brother and mother.

Why it is Hate Crime ?

The details provided by the victim’s father indicate a prolonged pattern of calculated trust-building and exploitation. The perpetrators used familial connections and a seemingly harmless friendship to gain proximity to the Hindu woman. The abduction appears to be part of a broader scheme driven by religious hostility, as evidenced by the repeated offences and the radical behavior of the principal accused. The perpetrators cultivated trust and familiarity through their friendship with the victim, which was later exploited to undermine her religious identity. The father’s testimony about the accused’s history of religious frenzy underscores that this was neither accidental nor opportunistic but a premeditated act rooted in hostility towards the victim’s faith. Furthermore, the father’s statement regarding threats to their lives demonstrates how fear was weaponized to control them and inhibit resistance. This is a common tactic in such crimes, where families are silenced through intimidation. However, since the victim is an adult, she has the agency to make her own decisions. Due to the absence of her testimony, the religious motive cannot be conclusively established. It is entirely possible that she left with the accused at her own free will, though prima facie it appears to be a case of religious coercion and manipulation. As a result, this incident is currently classified under the 'undecided' database. If further details emerge, the case will be shifted accordingly to the 'hate crime' database.