Mainstream media (MSM) has once again displayed its Hinduphobic bias by misusing the term Tantrik and using images of Hindu rituals to describe a heinous crime committed by a Muslim black magician. This deliberate misrepresentation not only distorts the facts but also targets and vilifies Hindu traditions, while conveniently obscuring the religious identity of the accused. Such biased reporting not only perpetuates misinformation but also undermines the integrity of journalism, raising serious concerns about the media’s role in Bharatiya society.
Mainstream media has often portrayed Hindus as scapegoats in crimes perpetrated by Islamists, especially by mislabeling Muslim criminals as tantriks or babas. These misleading portrayals create confusion and distract from the real issue. By associating Hindu terms with crimes committed by Islamists, the media fosters unnecessary divisions and spreads harmful stereotypes. This distortion in reporting undermines the responsibility of the media and misguides public perception. The following report highlights several such cases that have occurred in recent times across Bharat.
17-year-old Hindu girl abducted by self-proclaimed Islamic occult practitioner
In the early hours of January 10, 2025, a 17-year-old Hindu girl from Kithore, Meerut, was abducted by Mohammad Rashid, a self-proclaimed Islamic occult practitioner. As per OpIndia, the girl, allegedly manipulated by Rashid, left her home at around 4 AM while her family was asleep. Along with eloping, she reportedly took cash amounting to ₹5.93 lakh, eight tolas of gold jewelry, and expensive clothing.
The girl’s father filed a First Information Report (FIR No. 13/24) at the Kithore Police Station, citing Rashid’s involvement in the abduction. A local witness corroborated the account, stating they saw the girl leaving with Rashid, a resident of Bahroda village. Rashid, a father of six with a criminal history—including a jail term for murder—allegedly lured the girl using deceptive tactics.
Meerut SP (Rural) Rakesh Kumar Mishra confirmed that an FIR has been filed, and three of Rashid’s associates—Sabir, Tareekat (Sabir’s son), and Akeel—have been arrested. “Efforts are underway to locate the girl and apprehend Rashid. Two police teams have been deployed, and surveillance has provided crucial leads,” Mishra stated.
To prevent unrest, additional police forces, including personnel from the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), have been deployed in the village.
The abduction has led to significant unrest among locals. On January 11, residents staged a protest at the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) office, accusing the police of inaction. Gurjar activist Nagendra Gurjar Rachauti announced a ₹50,000 bounty on Rashid, calling for community support in locating him. In a video statement, Rachauti condemned Rashid’s actions and pledged to ensure justice for the victim’s family.
Media misrepresentation: attempt to malign Hindu practices
A major controversy has arisen over the terminology used by several media outlets to describe the accused. Some publications, including Aaj Tak, ETV Bharat, referred to Rashid as a Tantrik, a term traditionally associated with Hindu spiritual practices. The depiction, accompanied by images of Hindu puja rituals and a man in black attire with a mala, has sparked accusations of media misrepresentation.
Targeting Hindus and labeling them perpetuates stereotypes and misleads readers, equating Hindu religious practices with criminal activities. This pattern of inaccurately labeling Islamic occult practitioners as Tantriks has been observed in previous cases, further fueling resentment.
The deliberate misuse of Hindu Dharma-related terms like Tantrik to describe Islamists involved in criminal acts is a calculated attempt to divert public attention and foster Hindu phobia. Words like Tantrik, deeply rooted in Sanskrit and uniquely associated with Hindu practices, have no connection to Islamic customs or traditions. By falsely associating such terms with individuals from a different faith who commit heinous crimes, the media not only misrepresents the facts but also subtly maligns Hindu Dharma. This tactic shields the actual perpetrators and shifts the narrative, sowing seeds of doubt and fear against Hindu practices. It is imperative to address this biased portrayal, as it distorts societal understanding and undermines the integrity of Hindu traditions while obfuscating the accountability of the real culprits.
The FIR has been filed under Section 137(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police teams are actively pursuing leads to rescue the girl and apprehend Rashid. As of now, the three arrested accomplices are being interrogated for further information on Rashid’s whereabouts and the circumstances of the abduction.
Media misrepresents Mohammad Sharif as Tantrik in graveyard rape case
A shocking case of the rape of a 12-year-old girl has surfaced from the Kanjhawala area of Delhi, where a 52-year-old man named Mohammad Sharif has been arrested for the heinous crime. The incident reportedly took place when the accused lured the minor to a graveyard, claiming he would perform black magic to cure her father’s chronic illness. Once there, Sharif allegedly raped the girl.
The Delhi Police received a PCR call on August 27, reporting the sexual assault. A senior police officer stated, “A call regarding the sexual assault of a girl was received at Kanjhawala police station on Tuesday. A police team was sent to the spot.”
Based on the complaint, the police filed an FIR against Mohammad Sharif under Section 65(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and relevant provisions of the POCSO Act. The victim was subsequently medically examined at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, and an investigation is ongoing.
Misuse of Tantrik label by MSM
In a troubling twist, several media outlets like India Today, The Indian Express, have described Mohammad Sharif as a Tantrik while reporting the case. Despite his actual role as an exorcist or peer associated with the graveyard, this term, traditionally linked to Hindu spiritual practices, was used to describe the accused.
This misrepresentation appears to obscure the accused’s identity while creating false associations between the heinous act and Hindu traditions. Such labeling dilutes the seriousness of the crime and misleads the public.
Bombay High Court upholds life sentence for Maulvi Mehendi Kasim Sheikh; MSM’s misleading Tantrik narrative exposed
The Bombay High Court upheld the life imprisonment of Maulvi Mehendi Kasim Jainul Abideen Sheikh, who raped seven girls, including six minors, over a period of five years under the pretense of performing black magic. Known as Bengali Baba, Sheikh falsely presented himself and exploited the victims and their families. He used their fears and insecurities to gain their trust, forcing four girls to undergo abortions. The lower court had earlier convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment for his crimes.
In its verdict, the court criticized the exploitation of people’s insecurities and superstitions by self-proclaimed spiritual healers. It noted that these individuals not only extort money but also sexually abuse victims under the guise of offering solutions. Sheikh, who resided in Mumbai’s Paydhuni area, had gained access to the victims’ family by teaching religious texts to three sisters. The court labeled his actions as torture and emphasized the need for strict punishment to deter such crimes.
The reporting of Maulvi Mehendi Kasim Sheikh’s case by various media outlets highlights a concerning pattern where terms like Tantrik or mantra tantra are misused, even for crimes committed by individuals practicing Islamic black magic. TV9 Bharatvarsh and Live Law, among others, reported on Sheikh, a self-proclaimed Bengali Baba, accused of raping six minor girls under the pretense of spiritual healing. Despite his religious Islamic identity, these outlets referred to him using terms traditionally associated with Hindu practices, perpetuating a misleading narrative.
This consistent misrepresentation by media channels not only obscures the accused’s true identity but also vilifies Hindu traditions by conflating them with heinous crimes.
MSM mislabels fraudster as Tantrik in cancer cure and US visa scam
A shocking case of fraud emerged from Mumbai, Maharashtra, where Abubakar Mohammad Ali Shaikh, posing as a spiritual healer, duped multiple women under the pretext of curing cancer and assisting them in obtaining U.S. visas. Shaikh, identified as a self-proclaimed Fakir, exploited the vulnerabilities of women seeking treatment and better opportunities abroad. The police registered an FIR against Shaikh after complaints surfaced, leading to his arrest.
However, Hindustan Times reported the incident with a misleading headline, referring to Shaikh as a Tantrik. This misrepresentation diverts attention from the actual identity of the accused, perpetuating a narrative that unfairly associates such crimes with Hindu traditions.
MSM mislabels Tantrik in disturbing rape case
In a horrifying incident from Amroha, Uttar Pradesh, a 15-year-old girl was gang-raped by Afzal Malik, a self-proclaimed black magician, and his aides under the false pretense of curing her illness. The accused promised to heal the victim through his spiritual practices but instead exploited her vulnerability, subjecting her to a brutal assault. The crime occurred in Meerut, where the girl was lured for treatment but was horrifically violated. Following the incident, an FIR was filed, and the police took immediate action to arrest the accused.
However, mainstream media outlets, such as Times of India and Times Now, have reported the incident in a way that emphasizes misleading aspects, including referring to the accused as a Tantric. This labeling diverts attention from the core issue—the heinous crime committed against a minor. Such sensationalized terms can often distract from the true nature of the crime and potentially cause misinterpretations, drawing focus to irrelevant details instead of the criminal actions themselves.
MSM mislabels Tantrik in sexual assault case in Lucknow
In October 2020, a disturbing incident took place in Lucknow where a man named Nasir was arrested after a video of him sexually assaulting women under the guise of performing spiritual healing went viral. Nasir, who was reportedly involved in offering healing services, manipulated women by promising them cures for ailments. The video, which surfaced online, showed the accused engaging in inappropriate behavior, leading to his arrest after the police registered a case.
However, mainstream media outlets, including SheThePeople and Times of India, referred to Nasir as a Tantrik, using the term widely associated with spiritual healers and occult practices. This labeling by the media not only distorts the seriousness of the crime but also diverts attention from the real issue at hand—the sexual exploitation of vulnerable individuals.
MSM mislabels Aslam as Tantrik in COVID-19 controversy
In June 2020, a man named Aslam, who falsely claimed to cure COVID-19 by performing spiritual treatments, was reported to have died of the virus. He had been treating numerous individuals by having them stay in close proximity to him, claiming he could heal them. Tragically, after Aslam’s death, several individuals who had been in contact with him tested positive for COVID-19, raising concerns about the spread of the virus due to his actions.
Mainstream media outlets, including NDTV India, Aaj Tak, and Jagran, reported this incident and referred to Aslam as a Tantrik or spiritual healer. However, this term inaccurately categorized him as someone practicing occult rituals, which was not the actual focus of the case. The media’s use of the word Tantrik in these reports seemed to shift attention away from the critical issue at hand—the reckless and dangerous behavior in the midst of a global pandemic—while distracting from the public health risk his actions posed.
The term Tantrik, as even referenced in the Dictionary, is explicitly connected with ideas from ancient Hindu or Buddhist texts, particularly focusing on prayer, meditation, and spiritual practices. This clear definition underscores that the term has no relation to Islamic customs or traditions. Yet, its misuse by the MSM to describe Islamists involved in criminal acts is a deliberate and misleading distortion. By wrongly applying such terms, the narrative unjustly associates Hindu Dharma with acts of deceit or violence, diverting attention from the actual perpetrators. This growing trend of creating Hinduphobia by misrepresenting Hindu practices not only distorts public perception but also undermines the unity and peace within Hindu society in Bharat. The rise of Islamism and the increasing instances of Hinduphobia are deeply concerning.
