Hindu woman abducted for religious conversion and nikah by three Muslim men
Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh, India 
2 May, 2025
Case Summary
In the Huzurpur police station area of Bahraich, a Hindu woman was lured and abducted on May 3, 2025, by three Muslim men. The men, reportedly, attempted to convert her to Islam and perform a nikah with her. The culprits took her to an undisclosed location on May 8th, however, the police successfully rescued the woman and returned her to her family. The police arrested three individuals in connection with the case and recovered a burqa and a nikah nama written in Urdu from their possession. The accused were identified as Tariq, son of Taufiq Khan, from village Mulayam Purwa, Basantpur; Mohabbat Anas, son of Mohammad Kaleem, from Tamajpur, Ramganj police station; and Rais, son of Aneesh, from Madhavpur, Fakharpur police station. A case was filed against the accused under the Prohibition of Religious Conversion Act, along with several other legal provisions. As of the date of writing this report, the investigation was still ongoing.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case involves the criminal conduct of abduction and attempted conversion but presents complexities that make it difficult to conclusively categorise it as a religiously motivated hate crime, despite clear indications that the victim, a Hindu woman, may have been targeted because of her religious identity. The modus operandi aligns with a broader, well-documented pattern where Hindu women are exploited by Muslim men through emotional manipulation, false promises of marriage, and, in some instances, forced abductions—all tactics often linked to predatory proselytisation. In this case, the three Muslim accused lured and abducted the woman. The recovery of a burka and nikah nama from their possession further suggests an attempt at religious conversion. It remains unclear whether the woman was a minor or an adult. If she were an adult, she would have the agency to make decisions regarding relationships, consent to marriage, and even change her religion. However, the use of deception and abduction complicates the issue of informed consent or autonomy in this context. Given these factors, it is not possible to state beyond a reasonable doubt that a forced conversion attempt occurred or that she was deliberately targeted due to her Hindu identity. The current evidence does not explicitly point to forced religious conversion or proselytisation as the primary motive. As such, this case is placed in the "undecided" database. Should further investigation uncover evidence of attempted conversion, connections to networks targeting Hindu women, or ideological motivations rooted in religious hostility, the case may be reclassified accordingly.
Victim Details
Total Victim
1
Deceased
0
Gender
- Male 0
- Female 1
- Third Gender 0
- Unknown 0
Caste
- SC/ST 0
- OBC 0
- General 0
- Unknown 1
Age Group
- Minor 0
- Adult 0
- Senior Citizen 0
- Unknown 1
Case Status
Arrested
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 2 To 5
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
