"Dalit girl from Prayagraj given terrorist training: Brainwashed and taken to Kerala, forced conversion; Police arrest 2 suspects"
This is a very serious and worrying case, in which an attempt was made to train a 15-year-old Dalit girl from Prayagraj (Allahabad) in Uttar Pradesh for terrorism in Kerala. According to the police investigation, the accused abducted the girl, forcibly converted her and started training her for jihad. The girl escaped from there and sought help from the police at a railway station in Kerala.
Key points:
1. Accused:
The main accused is Mohammed Kaif (19), a resident of Lilhat, Prayagraj.
The second accused is a minor Muslim girl (16 years), who helped in "brainwashing" the victim and taking her to Kerala.
During the investigation, the possibility of a terrorist network has emerged, which includes some suspects from Kerala.
2. Sequence of events:
On May 8, 2024, the victim girl had gone to a wedding function in the village, from where she went missing.
The accused girl and Mohammad Kaif took her to Kerala by train from Prayagraj and converted her.
There were attempts to provide jihadi training to the girl, but she escaped from there and sought help from the Railway Police.
3. Police action:
The Kerala Police and the Uttar Pradesh ATS (Anti-Terrorism Squad) are conducting a joint investigation.
Mohammad Kaif and the minor girl have been arrested.
During the investigation, it has been found that other people may have been targeted by this gang.
4. Status of the victim:
The girl was kept in the custody of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Kerala, who was later taken home by the Prayagraj police.
The victim's mother received death threats from the accused.
5. Terrorist link:
The ATS suspects that the accused may be linked to a terrorist organisation. A Maulana and two girls were already present at the place where the girl was taken in Kerala.
Further action:
The ATS and the local police are investigating the network of the accused, their targets and other members of the gang.
A case has been registered under the IPC and the Protection of Child Rights Act on charges of conversion and forced training.
The case indicates a plan of religious targeting and organised terrorism, which is a major challenge for the country's security apparatus.
Article published | Mon | 30 Jun 2025 | 9:48 PM