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Group accuses man of ‘lying about his religion’ to woman in Bhopal, ‘assaults’ him on camera; no FIR so far

Police said they did not receive a complaint from either the man or the woman.

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Members of a right-wing group allegedly assaulted a man from the minority community in Bhopal’s Bhanpura area late Sunday night while questioning him about his relationship with a Hindu woman and accusing him of trying to hide his religion.

A purported video of the incident went viral on social media on Monday, and it showed the man being held by his hair and slapped. It also showed him being questioned about his name and address, as well as about his relationship with the woman.

The group, named Maa Bhawani Hindu, claimed that it detained the man and notified authorities, but accused the police of not taking action.

According to police, the incident took place under Chhola Mandir police station limits. The man, who sustained injuries to his face, had not filed a complaint as of Monday morning. Police also said the woman concerned submitted a written statement to the station, clarifying that she had faced no wrongdoing and that she did not wish to pursue any legal action. She described the man as an acquaintance and denied being coerced or harassed.

Police said further action from their side would depend on whether they receive any complaint regarding the matter and the verification of the videos that are being circulated.

Chhola Mandir station in-charge Saraswati Chauhan told The Indian Express that no FIR has been registered. “The woman has not come forward to register a case,” he said. Asked about the alleged assault seen in the video, Chauhan said, “There is no complaint by the youth, so we did not proceed with the case. Everyone has the freedom to file a complaint.”

Meanwhile, the president of Maa Bhawani Hindu said that they slapped the man because he “kept lying to us”.

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Bhanu Hindu, the outfit’s president, said, “We tipped off the police after we caught the man. But there was pressure on the woman not to file a case.” On the alleged assault, he said, “He was not assaulted severely. When our members caught him, he kept lying to us. So, he was slapped.”

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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