The term “grooming gangs” has become synonymous with organized sexual exploitation in the West, particularly in the UK and Canada. These gangs, often involving men of Pakistani descent, have systematically targeted vulnerable young girls, coercing them into sexual relationships and exploiting them for years. However, what many don’t realize is that a similar—and arguably larger—phenomenon that has been going on in Bharat, with social media platforms such as Instagram becoming the new hunting ground for these Islamist predators in the form of love jihad.
The UK grooming gang scandal
The UK grooming gang issue is one of the most harrowing and controversial chapters in the country’s recent history. These gangs, often involving organized groups of men of Pakistani origin, have systematically exploited and abused vulnerable children, primarily young girls, for decades. The scandal has exposed systemic failures in law enforcement, social services, and local authorities, raising urgent questions about justice, accountability, and societal responsibility.
Grooming gangs in the UK follow a calculated and predatory methodology to exploit their victims. A notorious example is the Rotherham grooming gang, which operated for over 16 years and abused an estimated 1,400 children.
Grooming gangs often prey on children from troubled backgrounds, including those in foster care, living in poverty, or experiencing neglect. In Rotherham, many victims were young girls from working-class families, often ignored or dismissed by authorities. Perpetrators pose as friendly, offering gifts, attention, and false promises of love and protection. They exploit the victims’ need for affection, gradually normalizing inappropriate behaviour.
Victims are isolated from their families and support systems, making them dependent on their abusers. Threats, violence, and psychological manipulation are used to maintain control. Victims are often passed around within the gang, subjected to repeated abuse, and sometimes trafficked to other towns.
The Bharatiya context: Love jihad and the role of social media
In Bharat, the phenomenon of grooming gangs is actually love jihad. The modus operandi is disturbingly similar to the grooming gangs in the West: perpetrators create fake profiles on social media, often using Hindu names, to target Hindu girls and women. They lure them into relationships, manipulate them emotionally, and then exploit them sexually. Once the victims are trapped, the perpetrators take explicit photos and videos, using them as blackmail to ensure silence. In many cases, the victims are also coerced into converting to Islam, adding a religious dimension to the crime.
The scale of the problem in Bharat
The scale of this problem in Bharat is alarming. Unlike the UK, where grooming gangs have been exposed in specific cities like Rotherham and Rochdale, the love jihad phenomenon is widespread, with cases reported from states like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, and Maharashtra. HinduPost has been reporting such instances almost every single day.
Social media platforms like Instagram have made it easier for perpetrators to operate anonymously and on a larger scale. Fake profiles, often with Hindu names and pictures, are used to gain the trust of Hindu girls, making it difficult for authorities to track the culprits.
Instagram and other social media platforms have become the new battleground for these predators. The anonymity and accessibility of these platforms make it easy for perpetrators to create fake identities, groom victims, and exploit them without fear of being caught. The victims, often young and naive, are lured into relationships with promises of love and marriage, only to be trapped in a cycle of abuse and exploitation.
The Ajmer Scandal: A parallel in Bharat
The Ajmer rape case is one of the most harrowing cases of sexual exploitation, blackmail, and systemic failure in Bharat. Here are the key details of the case:
The crimes occurred between 1989 and 1992, with the trial lasting 32 years until the final verdict in 2024. The crimes occurred in Ajmer, Rajasthan, a city known for its religious sites like the Pushkar Lake. A group of influential men lured, raped, and blackmailed over 100 women, most of whom were minors at the time. The crimes involved sodomy, rape, photography, and video recordings used for blackmail. Initially, 18 men were accused, but due to delays, acquittals, and deaths, only 6 were sentenced to life imprisonment in the final verdict.
How the scandal unfolded
The crimes began in 1989 when a group of men in their 20s lured a male friend to a poultry farm on the outskirts of Ajmer. After getting him drunk, they sodomized him, photographed the act, and filmed it. The same group then targeted another male friend, repeating the same pattern of assault and blackmail.
The group began targeting women, using blackmail to force victims to bring more friends into the circle. Victims were raped, photographed, and filmed, with the explicit material used to threaten them into silence or compliance. The group expanded its targets to include women from their neighbourhoods and social circles. The scandal came to light when a photo studio leaked explicit photographs of the victims. These images became widely circulated as pornographic material in Ajmer.
In 1992, a local newspaper published a report exposing the scandal, including a photograph of a partially nude girl being assaulted by two men. This led to widespread protests and a city-wide shutdown. The accused used their social influence and connections to lure victims. They would get victims drunk, assault them, and then use photographs and videos to blackmail them into bringing more victims. Victims were often given small amounts of money (e.g., ₹200) as a cruel gesture after the assault.
The victims
Over 100 women were reportedly victimized, most of whom were minors or teenagers. Many victims were students from prominent schools in Ajmer. The trauma led to six suicides among the victims. The accused threatened to circulate explicit photos and videos among victims’ families and communities if they did not comply. Some victims were forced to bring their friends or family members to the group.
In a prolonged legal battle, police recorded statements from 30 victims, but only 16 were included in the chargesheet due to societal stigma. Trials faced repeated delays due to staggered arrests, absconding accused, and witness hostility. In 1998, 12 were sentenced to life, later reduced to 10 years by higher courts. In 2024, a POCSO court sentenced the remaining 6 to life imprisonment. The court directed the National Legal Aid Authority to compensate 16 survivors ₹7 lakh each, funded by a ₹30 lakh penalty on the convicted. The case highlighted systemic delays and the societal challenges faced by survivors.
The Ajmer case caused lifelong trauma for victims, with some facing broken marriages, societal stigma, and mental health struggles; several attempted or committed suicide. Out of 16 survivors in the chargesheet, 13 turned hostile, while 3 testified consistently, securing convictions. Justice was delayed for 32 years due to staggered arrests, systemic inefficiencies, and lack of witness protection. Prominent schools were defamed, damaging Ajmer’s reputation. In 2024, six men, including Nafees Chisty and Naseem Chisty, were sentenced to life.
For Hindus, the rise of love jihad and similar crimes is a call to action. It is imperative to educate young women about the dangers of online predators and false relationships. Families and communities must remain vigilant, fostering open communication and support systems to protect their loved ones. At the same time, law enforcement and judicial systems must prioritize these cases, ensuring timely justice and robust support for survivors.
The fight against grooming gangs and love jihad is not just a legal battle but a societal one. Hindus must unite to safeguard their communities, challenge systemic failures, and demand accountability. Only through collective vigilance and action can we hope to stem this rising tide of exploitation and protect future generations from falling victim to these Islamist predators. The time to act is now—before more lives are destroyed.