With the increasing radicalization among Islamists in India, Hindu men are repeatedly being attacked if they even walk with a female Muslim colleague. At these times, Hindu men always end up at the mercy of law enforcement authorities.
A couple of months ago, Islamists began peddling a baseless theory dubbed ‘Bhagwa Love Trap’ to counter 100s of documented cases of impersonation, identity fraud, and forced conversions to Islam (popularly known as Love Jihad).
While it started out as a social media hashtag, Islamists soon began sharing videos of random hijab-wearing Muslim women and their male Hindu friends/ acquaintances and partners without their consent.
The posts are often accompanied by emotional messages and sought public help in identifying the couples. Soon after, social media was rife with videos of Islamist mobs ambushing random Hindu-Muslim couples.
This would then be followed by heated arguments, physical assault on the Hindu men, and even molestation of the Muslim women. The attacks were carried out under the pretext that a sinister plot was underway to convert Muslim women to Hinduism by luring them into a love trap (the basis of the Bhagwa Love trap).
It is not a new phenomenon for Islamists to come up with conspiracy theories that absolve them of any wrongdoing or project them as perpetual victims. This time they seem to use the conspiracy theory of the ‘Bhagwa Love trap’ to rationalise their act of moral policing and violence against the Hindu community.
Social media conspiracy theory translates into real-life acts of violence
Multiple videos have now come to light where rabid Islamist mobs are seen openly harassing, abusing, and manhandling inter-faith couples. These videos have been reported from different cities/States of India.
The victims have been targeted on roads, restaurants, eateries, and even hotels. Based on local reports and social media videos, OpIndia has compiled a total of 30 cases where Hindu men and Muslim women were attacked by extremists under the pretext of ‘Bhagwa love trap.’
On May 15 this year, a violent Muslim mob abused and assaulted a Hindu man for being friends with a Muslim girl in Patna city of Bihar. The duo was stopped by the mob while they were on a bike and abused for roaming together.
The Muslim girl was also schooled by the mob and asked to leave the spot and go home.“Madarch*d. Bhagwa Love Trap karega. Muslim ladki ko phasayega,” the mob could be heard abusing and accusing the Hindu man.
*Abusive Content*
— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) May 15, 2023
A Hijab wearing muslim girl was on a bike with a Hindu guy in Patna. Few people stopped them, abused and beaten the boy badly.
Goons shouted "Muslim ki Ladki ko ghumayega"
Girl kept saying he's classmate, she was told "Muslim ladki hoke kya kar rahin hain ye" pic.twitter.com/ndZ5SczIyN
A similar incident came to light on May 13, 2023, in the Muzaffarnagar city of Uttar Pradesh. The Islamists asked the Hindu man about his identity and threatened him for roaming with a Muslim girl.
The Muzaffarnagar Police took cognizance of the event and filed an FIR in the case based on the complaint of the Hindu man identified as Shivansh.
While speaking to Opindia, he narrated his ordeal, “They abused me. Threatened me. They even tried harassing the woman. They removed her burqa and harassed her. It was so shameful. We are just friends, not even friends, just classmates.”
खुले आम जाट समाज के युवा को धमकाती मुग़लों की भीड़ ॥ मुज़फ़्फ़रनगर पुलिस से शिकायत के बाद भी नहीं ली जा रही एफ़आईआर ॥ आप सभी हिंदू भाइयों से आग्रह ॥ विडीओ इतना शेयर करें कि मुख्यमंत्री साहब संज्ञान ले सके ॥ जाट लड़के को जान से मारने की धमकियाँ दी जा रही हैं ॥ @myogiadityanath… pic.twitter.com/Wpfh5B4QOz
— THE JAT ASSOCIATION (@Jatassociation) May 15, 2023
In one such video from Meerut in Uttar Pradesh, a group of extremists gheraoed two burqa-clad women and reprimanded them for befriending a Hindu man.
Initially, they stopped the two women and interrogated them for walking with a Hindu man. The Islamists then went on to forcefully remove the veils of the women. The police have registered a case against the two unidentified youths and are actively searching for them.
Muslim Mob Beaten a Hindu Boy for having friendship with Two Muslim Women
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 14, 2023
For Left LJ is Hoax but bhagwa love trap is Real
Location : Bhagat Singh Market, Meerut
FIR registered by police pic.twitter.com/Mykx5oOMCr
In another video of the same incident, the perpetrators were seen intimidating the Hindu youth accompanying the Muslim women. They were seen gripping the young man by his collar and forcefully dragging him around the market.
Muslim mob brutally beaten a Hindu boy after caught with muslim (girl) colleague.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 13, 2023
(Bhagat Singh market sohrab gate) hello @Uppolice @dgpup @meerutpolice @myogioffice take strict action against goons. #bhagwalovetrap #KarnatakaElectionResults2023 pic.twitter.com/K3Nqa5Px3f
A disturbing video has surfaced from the Muslim-dominated Juhapura area of Ahmedabad wherein an Islamist was seen harassing a hijab-clad Muslim woman for talking to a Hindu man. The video went viral on social media last month.
“You cannot keep such friends. How can you hug these people?”, the extremist warned. He even threatened to rip apart the Hindu man accompanying the girl.
यह घटना अहमदाबाद जुहापुरा 100 फीत रोड अंबर टावर देख लो अपने मुसलमानों की लड़कियों इनको समझाने पर देखो इनके कैसे इनकी गैरत भी नहीं जाती pic.twitter.com/Pv98WH7WbA
— Mohammad Firozalam Mohammad Samsher (@Mohamma06203448) April 28, 2023
A Twitter user (@warriorbeast73) shared a video and claimed that an Islamist mob abducted a Muslim girl and a Hindu boy and forced the girl to dial her parents.
He claimed that the incident took place in the Income Tax Office area of Ahmedabad. He also sought the immediate intervention of the law enforcement authorities.
Case-27)🤦 Muslim youths kidnapped muslim girl and Hindu boy after caught together. They are forcefully asking girl's parent mob. no.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 13, 2023
(Ahmedabad, income tax office area) @AhmedabadPolice @dgpgujarat @GujaratPolice #bhagwalovetrap #KarnatakaElectionResults2023 pic.twitter.com/MsMBRFOhvt
Several cases of harassment of Hindu men and their female Muslim friends/acquaintances and colleagues have come to light from the State of Madhya Pradesh.
In almost all cases, the hijab-clad girls were coerced into calling their parents while the Hindu men were verbally abused, manhandled, and even thrashed brutally.
Case-25) Muslim youths are harassing and forcefully asking girl's parents mob. no. after caught with Hindu boy.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 10, 2023
(Sarangpur, Rajgarh,MP)@mpcyberpolice @RajgarhSp @MPPoliceDeptt @MPPoliceOnline @drnarottammisra #bhagwalovetrap #moralpolicing pic.twitter.com/yhNYrq9aGz
Most of the videos were shared on Twitter by @warriorbeast73. The modus operandi in almost all cases appeared similar. An unsuspecting mob of Islamists ambushes a couple, wherein the girl is seen wearing a hijab. They coerce the man into revealing his name.
Again Muslim mob harassed, abused and threaten a Muslim girl to make viral for befriending Hindu man.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 16, 2023
(Raisen dargah,MP) fake claim of #bhagwalovetrap @MPPoliceDeptt @mpcyberpolice @MPPoliceOnline @CMMadhyaPradesh @drnarottammisra arrest these goons. (RT) pic.twitter.com/KielqO68Ig
Once it is established that the man is Hindu, then, the extremists rough him up for daring to befriend a Muslim woman. They also try to harass the woman and justify their actions by blaming her for deviating from the path of Deen.
"Remove Your Niqab, I'll make your video Viral"
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 4, 2023
Muslim woman Harassed and threatened in broad daylight
Location : Sehore, MP pic.twitter.com/zpIOsOQ9nW
Muslim mob beaten a Hindu guy for being with muslim women.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 16, 2023
(Seoni,MP) @MPPoliceDeptt@MPPoliceOnline @mpcyberpolice@drnarottammisra @ChouhanShivraj@SeoniPolice
(RT max so that people can give their attention) pic.twitter.com/hWo9EkcGQN
A Muslim girl & her Hindu Friend Thrashed by Muslim Mob for going on Coffee Date
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 3, 2023
Last month incident that created riot like situation
Location : Khandwa, MP pic.twitter.com/85abR6IFmf
The Twitter user (@warriorbeast 73) wrote, “Muslim youths have waged a war across India against Muslim woman, who has Hindu (male) friend under the fake allegation of #bhagwalovetrap.”
Muslim youths have waged
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 16, 2023
a war across India against muslim woman, who has Hindu(male) friend under fake allegation of #bhagwalovetrap . pic.twitter.com/eBt1nW8hQU
"हमे तुम्हारी जान लेना भी allow है"
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 4, 2023
Video From Bhopal
Same story, M Girl with Hindu Boy
Harassed pic.twitter.com/lEaEgfdxTB
Some cases of attacks by Islamists on Hindu-Muslim couples were also allegedly reported from Rajasthan.
A Muslim women beginning don't record her video,
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 6, 2023
but Muslim youths harassed and filmed her for being with Hindu friend.
(Ghat gate, Jaipur) @jaipur_police @ashokgehlot51 #bhagwalovetrap pic.twitter.com/kNlAiSvNZQ
Alert: Muslim girl and Hindu boy almost lynched by Muslim mob after caught together.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 5, 2023
(Mina Bazar, Jaipur)#BhagwaLoveTrap @jaipur_police @ashokgehlot51 pic.twitter.com/Io9efntfFa
In April this year, the police apprehended three males for harassing a hijab-wearing Muslim college girl. The incident took place in the vicinity of Makai Gate in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar in Maharashtra.
The girl’s mobile phone was also snatched and she can be seen asking the boys harassing her to give back her phone. The intimidation started due to the youngsters’ suspicion that she was hanging out with a Hindu man. At the time of the attack, the girl had come to visit the famous Bibi Ka Maqbara in the city.
The trio made an effort to stop the pair and even questioned the girl, “Why are you walking with some other boy”. Afterward, they started harassing her. One of them grabbed the girl’s hand as she quickly moved forward to escape them.
She begged them to release her hand. This lasted for a long time and no one stepped forward to assist the girl despite the fact that there were a lot of people around them.
Video from Sambhaji Nagar (earlier Aurangabad) where a burqa-clad girl was molested by her co-religionists for hanging out with a “gair-Muslim” pic.twitter.com/e08mB330Sf
— Swati Goel Sharma (@swati_gs) April 27, 2023
In one case, Islamists were seen stalking and abusing a burqa-clad woman traveling on a bike. The incident is said to be from Kalyan in Maharashtra.
Watch how Muslim youths are stalking and abusing a burqa women on bike,
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 15, 2023
Over suspicion of she is with Hindu Guy, under fake allegation of #bhagwalovetrap…
@CPMumbaiPolice @MumbaiPolice @DGPMaharashtra @MahaPolice @CMOMaharashtra pic.twitter.com/4wJ9zpoOz1
In one incident, Islamists force a Muslim girl to dial her father after they realize that she is traveling with a Hindu man.
"We saw everything,you're hanging out with Hindu Man,Give us your Father number now"
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 1, 2023
Again a Muslim woman Harassed by her community people
Location : Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/UIyqzDGQcj
Another video form Chitnis park, Nagpur.
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 2, 2023
Hope we share such videos in same enthusiasm the way they share bajrang dal videos to defame 🙏 pic.twitter.com/umy7xQPMKL
According to a Twitter user (@wariiorbeast73), a Muslim mob forced a Hindu boy and a Muslim girl to deboard a train and thrashed them later.
Case- 28) another case of harassment Muslim mob took away Hindu boy and muslim girl from train and beaten them.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 14, 2023
Such case are increasing day by day
( Aurangabad, station)@Uppolice @dgpup #bhagwalovetrap
( RT Maximum) pic.twitter.com/LWxvv4OaQA
According to Twitter user @warriorbeast73, several incidents have also surfaced in the State of Telangana.
Case-26) Muslim mob assault a Hindu boy asked girl's parent mob. no. after caught with muslim girl.#BhagwaLoveTrap @TelanganaCMO @TelanganaCOPs @TelanganaDGP @hydcitypolice #moralpolicing pic.twitter.com/Bn3xNtqyip
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 11, 2023
Two Muslim girls start crying after being harassed, abused and threaten to viral by Muslim mob for roaming with Hindu boy.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 9, 2023
(Colony Golconda fort, Hyderabad, Telangana) @TelanganaCOPs @TelanganaDGP @TelanganaCMO @hydcitypolice #BhagwaLoveTrap #moralpolicing #lovejihad pic.twitter.com/SJVgdqS389
In one case, Islamists reportedly barged into a cafe in Ranchi and harassed a Muslim woman and a Hindu man over their new-found conspiracy theory of ‘Bhagwa Love Trap.’
Islamists randomly went in a cafe asked boy's name who was with a Muslim girl.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 15, 2023
After find out him Hindu they abused, harassed and filmed over fake clam of #bhagwalovetrap
(hideout cafe, Ranchi)@ranchipolice@DC_Ranchi @JharkhandPolice
LKFC @zoo_bear @khanumarfa pic.twitter.com/iSsatZViqK
The location of some of the disturbing videos could not be ascertained. Assault and public humiliation remained the key strategies, which were employed by the Islamists to shame the victims.
Found one more video of harassing a Muslim girl by radical Islamists, just because she was allegedly with a non-Muslim friend.
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) April 28, 2023
It was posted on Instagram 2 weeks ago. I don't know how old it is. pic.twitter.com/rqqWeF6aOQ
Listen: muslims have waged war against muslim girls over fake allegation of #Bhagwalovetrap .
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 16, 2023
They are filming or harassing or threatening every burqa women who found with a hindu guy.
Watch what is happening across India… pic.twitter.com/unrub8tkoD
There were also instances of rampant verbal abuse and molestation of Muslim women by their co-religionists. In one case, the victim asked the perpetrator to not touch her inappropriately.
An Islamist responded by saying, “Hath Laga Sakate hai, kyoki Aap kaum ka Nam Badnam kar rahi ho! (We can touch you how we want. This is because you are bringing shame to our community).”
This is really heart-wrenching.
— Vijay Patel🇮🇳 (@vijaygajera) April 28, 2023
"Aap Mujhe Hath Nahi Laga Sakate" Muslim girl is saying this while a bunch of radicals are molesting her.
In reply to her, a molester is saying," Hath Laga Sakate hai, kyoki Aap kaum ka Nam Badnam kar rahi ho!"
Meanwhile, one molester is trying… pic.twitter.com/XDdO5Vi5Ms
In another case, an Islamist asked a burqa-clad Muslim woman to not wear a burqa and roam naked instead. “Women like you bring a bad name to the Muslim community,” he was heard as saying.
TW : Abusive language
— THE INTREPID 🇮🇳 (@Theintrepid_) May 3, 2023
"बुर्का उतार के नंगी फिरो, तुम्हारे वजह से मजहब का नाम खराब होता है"
Place unknown but you know the community pic.twitter.com/hguxKaKGFj
In one video, an Islamist was seen inquiring whether a man accompanying a burqa-clad woman was a Hindu or Muslim. “Wait! Listen to me. Don’t you feel ashamed to roam with infidel Hindu in a burqa?”, the extremist threatened.
Islamists are asking religion of every boy who is with burqa clad women.
— HARASSMENT (@warriorbeast73) May 14, 2023
After found out boy is Hindu islamists are abusing, threatening and harassing The Hindu boy over fake #bhagwalovetrap narrative.
( RT) pic.twitter.com/b5CJ1Aqoyz
In some videos, Islamist mobs were seen barging into hotels and engaging in moral policing.
Ye dhako ye muslim ladki hindu ladke ke saath oyo hotel me range haat pakdi gai or pakde jaane ke baad ye khe rhi hai ke ye bhai hai mera is randi ko or video ko viral kro taki is ghar tak ptashale bhagwa love trap save muslim girl pic.twitter.com/6xcx9CodC9
— maazsiddiqui315 (@maazsiddiqui315) May 12, 2023
It must be mentioned that the police have not taken cognizance of all videos, which have surfaced on social media. Only a few incidents have so far made it to local reports and mainstream media.
In the absence of appropriate action by law enforcement authorities, the extremists are only likely to be emboldened. This becomes more alarming when analyzed with the fact that the viral videos were shot by the perpetrators and not the victims.
It goes on to show that the Islamists have no fear of law and order despite being well aware that the videos could be used as evidence against them.
Disclaimer: Opindia could not independently verify the authenticity of all the videos due to technical limitations.