Bhopal Hotel Assault: Muslim Man Humiliated by Bajrang Dal, Police Register FIR

A Muslim man was allegedly assaulted and humiliated by a group identified as Bajrang Dal members in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, after he was found with a Hindu woman in a hotel room. The incident occurred at the Pride Inn hotel in Gautam Nagar, where 27-year-old Arif Khan had reportedly gone to meet the woman. A group of men allegedly barged into the room, physically attacked Khan, and dragged him onto the street. Videos circulated widely on social media, showing him being assaulted as the crowd raised offensive religious slogans. The clips also appear to show ink and cow dung being smeared on Khan’s face in the presence of police personnel attempting to intervene.

Following the incident and subsequent outrage, local Muslim community members held a protest on Tuesday, demanding the immediate arrest of those accused. Govindpura police registered a First Information Report against unidentified persons on 12 May under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including Section 299, which deals with deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings. The FIR was based on a complaint filed by a local resident. SHO Awadhesh Singh Tomar confirmed that police were examining viral videos and other evidence to identify those involved. He added that two people had been arrested so far, including a minor, and that additional sections had been added to the FIR based on multiple complaints related to the incident.

Tomar also stated that Khan had been sent to judicial custody as part of an investigation into allegations related to “love jihad.” However, the woman involved reportedly told police that she had gone to the hotel of her own free will and denied allegations of coercion, forced conversion, or pressure by Khan. Her statement contradicts claims often associated with the term “love jihad,” a phrase used by Hindutva groups to allege conspiracies involving interfaith relationships. The Union Home Ministry has previously informed Parliament that there is no legal definition or statutory provision recognising “love jihad” under Indian law.

The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) submitted a separate complaint to Govindpura police station, alleging that men identifying themselves as Bajrang Dal members unlawfully detained and assaulted Khan while filming the attack. The organisation alleged that derogatory religious remarks were made during the assault, including statements such as “call your Allah,” and claimed Khan was threatened with the circulation of the video on social media. In its complaint, APCR described the incident as an attempt to spread communal hatred and disturb public order, accusing the attackers of taking the law into their own hands. APCR’s state coordinator Anwar Pathan said no separate FIR had been registered based on the organisation’s named complaint, but some sections had been added to the previously registered FIR.

In another complaint submitted to Bhopal police on 12 May, Darul Qaza and Darul Ifta, functioning under the Masajid Committee, stated that Khan was assaulted by men claiming association with Bajrang Dal after he and the woman had voluntarily gone to the hotel. The complaint sought action against those named, including Rohit Singh, Brajendra Prajapati, Jeetu Kushwaha, and Ranjeet Suryavanshi, under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act. Tomar told Maktoob that the arrested minor had been handed over to the Juvenile Justice Board, and another accused, Lala Ram Meena, was in police custody, with more arrests expected as the investigation continued.