Bhopal Police Register FIRs Against Six for Rape and Forced Religious Conversion
In a shocking case from Madhya Pradesh, Bag Sewania police in Bhopal have taken swift action by registering two separate First Information Reports (FIRs) on Sunday. The complaints were filed by two women—a 21-year-old beautician from Chhattisgarh and a 30-year-old divorced mother of two from Bhopal—leading to charges of rape and forced religious conversion against approximately half a dozen accused, including two sisters.
Details of the Alleged Crimes
According to police officials, the accused, led by a woman identified as Razia Khan (name changed), allegedly operated a sinister racket. They targeted vulnerable women by befriending them under the guise of providing employment opportunities. Once trust was established, the survivors were reportedly presented to male associates for sexual exploitation.
The 30-year-old survivor's account: She stated that she met Razia in 2024 at Ashima Mall while working at a catering agency. Razia offered her a babysitting job with a monthly salary of Rs 10,000, which she accepted. Later, she began living with Razia and her live-in partner, Chandan Yadav. During this time, Chandan allegedly drugged her tea and raped her. Subsequently, Razia is accused of taking her to Ahmedabad, where she was sexually exploited by her brother Yasir. The survivor managed to escape in February 2025.
The 21-year-old survivor's account: She met Razia's sister-in-law, Riya (name changed), at a friend's birthday party. Unaware that Riya had converted, she was introduced to Razia at Ashima Mall with promises of better employment. Through Razia, she came into contact with Chandan, who allegedly forced physical relations on her. Later, Razia's brother Bilal and Yasir in Ahmedabad reportedly sexually exploited her. When she complained to Riya, she learned that Riya had married Razia's brother Haider and converted from Hinduism to Islam.
Forced Conversion and Pressure Tactics
Both survivors alleged that after the sexual assaults, they were pressured to convert to Islam. The accused reportedly forced them to read religious books and discussed arranging marriages to Muslim men. In one instance, the accused told the younger survivor, "Men in our community are good; they do not beat women or drink alcohol. You should adopt our religion and marry one of our men." The gang also allegedly took her to parties in revealing clothes as part of the harassment.
Police Action and Arrests
Bag Sewania police have registered cases under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. The accused named in the FIRs include Razia Khan, her live-in partner Chandan Yadav (who allegedly converted), her brother Bilal, Yasir, her sister Ayesha (name changed), and another associate. So far, police have arrested Razia, Ayesha, and Chandan. They were produced before a court on Monday and taken on remand for further investigation.
Bag Sewania Station House Officer (SHO) Amit Soni confirmed that two separate cases of rape and forced religious conversion were registered based on the complaints. He stated, "Three accused have been arrested so far, and efforts are underway to nab the remaining suspects." The police are actively investigating to uncover the full extent of this alleged racket and ensure justice for the survivors.
