Bahraich: In a disturbing incident from Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district, two Hindu men were allegedly abducted, tortured, and humiliated after they had earlier reported an alleged ‘love jihad’ case to the police.
The assault, which took place on 23 July, is now under investigation, with officials suspecting personal rivalry as the likely motive.
‘Dragged into a Car, Beaten with Rods, Denied Water’
Chandan Maurya, one of the victims, has filed a complaint with the Ramgaon police station, saying that he, his cousin Mohit, and a friend named Annu were on their way to attend a birthday celebration when they were intercepted by Shahabuddin and two others in Mehari Baikha village. Two more men, identified as Anas and Zeeshan, allegedly joined in shortly after.
Chandan and Mohit were reportedly dragged into a vehicle and taken to an isolated location, where they were stripped and brutally assaulted. In his complaint, Chandan alleged that the men used iron rods and sticks to beat them, denied them water, and even forced them to drink urine. He further claimed they were made to chant “Islam Zindabad” at gunpoint.
Accusations of Police Inaction and Fake Identity Ring Surface
As per a report by India Today, the matter escalated with more serious claims from Chandan, who accused the group of running an Instagram ring called “Baba Guruup” that allegedly used fake Hindu identities to lure Hindu girls via WhatsApp. He shared screenshots of one such alleged fake ID and said the group often flaunted luxury cars and expensive gadgets.
Chandan also alleged that when he had first raised concerns about the group nearly two months ago, police officers deleted evidence from his phone and pushed for a compromise rather than action. “They had been planning to kill us in Nepal,” he claimed.
Additional SP Durga Prasad Tiwari confirmed that Shahabuddin, Anas, and Zeeshan have been arrested. “Initial probe indicates personal enmity... the rest of the claims are being investigated,” he told reporters, adding that some allegations surfaced only later and were not part of the original FIR.
