Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the case so far, said officials, adding that the group targeted young individuals, especially girls, using online games
The religious conversion racket under investigation in Agra involved coordination with handlers based in Pakistan and used online platforms and gaming apps to influence youth, police said on Saturday.
Fourteen people have been arrested in connection with the case so far, said officials, adding that the group targeted young individuals, especially girls, using online games like Ludo as initial contact points.
According to Agra Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the suspects allegedly introduced Islamic teachings and created doubts about Hinduism through sustained communication.
The case came to light after two sisters, aged 33 and 18, were reported missing from Agra. One of them had posted a photo on social media holding an AK-47.
This led to the arrest of 10 people from six states, followed by four more as the investigation progressed.
Some of the girls were reportedly influenced by Kashmiri women who were part of the network and criticised Hinduism while promoting Islam, reported Hindustan Times.
“We have interrogated 14 arrested individuals and spoken to the rescued girls. It was found that they were in contact with people in Pakistan, who spoke to them about Islam, and with some girls in Kashmir who reportedly influenced them to adopt the religion,” Agra police commissioner Deepak Kumar said.
Police have identified Abdul Rehman, a Delhi resident who converted to Islam in 1990, and Ayesha from Goa as key figures in the operation.
The network allegedly targeted girls from several states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana. The rescued individuals were reportedly added to WhatsApp groups where ideological indoctrination continued.
Commissioner Kumar said the operation involved individuals with knowledge of the dark web and encrypted messaging platforms like Signal, which were used to evade detection.
