UP men stripped, beaten and forced to drink urine after reporting alleged Love Jihad

Two Hindu men in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich district have alleged they were abducted, stripped, and tortured by a group of men just weeks after they reported a suspected 'love jihad' case to the police. The harrowing incident, which occurred on July 23, has triggered a police investigation, with three suspects arrested so far.

One of the victims, Chandan Maurya, filed a complaint at the Ramgaon police station, claiming that he and his cousin Mohit were kidnapped while on their way to attend a birthday party. According to the complaint, the duo was intercepted by a man named Shahabuddin and two associates from Mehari Baikha village.

Two more individuals, Anas and Zeeshan, allegedly joined in before the victims were forcibly taken to a remote area and subjected to brutal abuse.

Chandan alleged that he and Mohit were stripped naked, thrashed with iron rods and wooden sticks, denied water, and forced to drink urine. The attackers also allegedly held them at gunpoint and coerced them to chant “Islam Zindabad.”

Personal enmity or premeditated revenge?

While the police confirmed the abduction and assault, they suggested the violence may have been rooted in an old rivalry.

“Preliminary investigation points to personal enmity between the groups. A case has been registered, and three accused — Shahabuddin, Anas, and Zeeshan — have been arrested,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Durga Prasad Tiwari.

The victims were rescued near Matera, and the vehicle used in the alleged kidnapping has been seized. However, Tiwari noted that the claims related to forced religious slogans were not part of the original FIR and surfaced only later.

“Those allegations have not yet been corroborated with any evidence. We’re thoroughly investigating all new information,” Tiwari added.

Instagram trap and police apathy alleged

Chandan also claimed the assailants were members of an Instagram group called Baba Guruup, which, he alleged, used fake Hindu identities to entrap Hindu girls via WhatsApp. He accused the group of flaunting luxury vehicles and expensive gadgets to lure targets, and shared screenshots purportedly linked to the group's online profiles.

More explosively, Chandan accused the police of deleting evidence from his phone and attempting to hush up the matter when he first reported the group’s activities nearly two months ago.

“They didn’t act. Instead, they erased all the evidence and tried to broker a compromise,” he alleged, stating that the attackers had harbored a grudge and were planning to kill him and Mohit by taking them across the border into Nepal.

Police say these additional allegations are now being examined as part of an extended probe. “We are verifying all claims and will pursue every lead,” said Tiwari.

The incident has reignited debate over interfaith tensions, police accountability, and the dangers of online grooming. As investigations continue, pressure mounts on law enforcement to deliver justice in a case that has shaken the local community.