India: Hindu Girls in Bhopal Reportedly Victimized by Gang Involving Rape, Blackmail, and Forced Religious Conversion
- Mahamunimodi Team
- 19 hours ago
- 3 min read
As the case progressed, the investigation uncovered alarming new details. Not only were the three individuals initially accused arrested (with Ali Khan still at large), but the scale of the crime appeared to be far more extensive.
Among the victims identified are two sisters pursuing engineering degrees. They reported meeting Farhan Khan through a mutual friend. One sister stated that Farhan took her to a house owned by Hamid, where he raped her and recorded the assault. When she attempted to resist, she was allegedly threatened, forced to eat non-vegetarian food against her will, and coerced into converting and marrying him.
The other sister reported that Farhan introduced her to Ali Khan, who allegedly raped her, filmed the act, and later sent the video to Farhan, who used it to blackmail her. When she refused further demands, she was allegedly lured to a house, drugged, and raped again.
In another disturbing account, a victim from Indore recounted being repeatedly raped by Farhan after he drugged her, forced her to watch pornographic videos, and assaulted her at a hotel. She told police that Farhan beat her, threatened her with a knife, and demanded that she introduce her friends to his circle.
Out of fear that her videos would be leaked, the victim complied and introduced one of her friends to Sahil, a friend of Farhan’s. Sahil then allegedly raped the friend. In a similar incident, Ali reportedly assaulted another of the victim’s friends at a hotel in Ashoka Garden and secretly recorded the attack. The victim further accused Farhan of extorting money from her.
Another survivor named additional suspects, including Shahrukh, Ayana, and Zoya. She accused Shahrukh of raping her and pressuring her to bring a minor friend into the fold. The minor was then raped by Ayan, who filmed the assault. The videos were later used to blackmail the victims. Shahrukh also allegedly forced the victim to meet Arbaaz, who raped her as well.
Abrar and Nabeel, Farhan’s juniors from the same college, have also emerged as key figures. According to the police, they used their rooms as locations for assaults, setting up hidden cameras in advance. Posing as hosts of parties or study sessions, they would invite the girls and offer marijuana and loud music before sexually exploiting them. Farhan often brought victims to these gatherings.
Several suspects, including Mohammad Saad, Arbaaz, Ayan, Shahrukh, Javed alias Bhaiyyu, Nabeel, Zoya, and Faizan, have been arrested. However, many others, including Abrar Khan, are still on the run. It is deeply disturbing that the rape ring involved not only Muslim men but also women from the same community. This involvement is especially troubling, as it contradicts the widely held belief that women would naturally empathize with other women who have suffered sexual violence. The participation of these women raises serious questions about how biases may have overridden basic human empathy and moral judgment. Authorities have identified two such women who acted as intermediaries, facilitating relationships between Muslim men and Hindu girls.
Media reports indicate that one of these women worked at a cosmetics store, where she would encourage Hindu girls to attend Sahil’s dance class. She specifically targeted economically disadvantaged Hindu girls, urging them to engage in sexual relations with Sahil in exchange for waiving class fees. These women have also allegedly pressured Hindu victims to wear burqas, fast during Islamic observances (Roza), and marry Muslim men while converting to Islam. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover further details.
The investigation has also revealed a disturbing ideological angle. Farhan, believed to be the ringleader, reportedly confessed to the police that he had formed this group with the explicit aim of targeting Hindu girls. He allegedly told investigators that he saw this as a form of "jihad," believing his actions were virtuous, a "sabab" in Islam. Shockingly, police found evidence suggesting Farhan was attempting to sell the victims' videos to pornographic websites as part of a planned revenge against a girl who had started to ignore him.
Messages and threats recovered from the accused's mobile phones have helped identify additional victims through media files. Investigators suspect there may be many more victims who have yet to come forward due to fear and trauma.
On April 30, Farhan Khan was presented before a local court via video conferencing. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to apprehend the remaining suspects. Abrar's last known location was traced to Murshidabad, although he is originally from Bihar. The incident has sent shockwaves through the state, raising serious concerns about the safety of Hindu women and girls, and highlighting the need for enhanced monitoring of jihadist elements.