Mariyam Usmani, TwoCircles.net
Adnan, a 22-year-old mechanic, was resting after iftar when one of his acquaintances Raj allegedly lured him outside under the guise of a friendly conversation. It was the evening of March 3, and no one in Adnan’s family, nor the residents of Gandhinagar locality in Bhopal, could have ever imagined that this young Muslim man would be brutally stabbed to death allegedly by three Hindutva extremists for opposing their communal conspiracy.
“Everyone had gone to offer Taraweeh prayers except Adnan’s father. The murderers took advantage of this and lured my son out. He was brave and emotional, and I know he would have fought them off, but they were cowards who planned this act in secret,” the victim’s mother, Rizwana Khan, said through tears, reflecting on the loss of her beloved son.
Adnan was rushed to the hospital after the attack, but the doctors declared him dead on arrival. According to the victim’s family, the three suspected murderers — Lucky, Raj and Shubham — were closely related. Shubham, the nephew of the other two accused, had allegedly been plotting to ensnare a Muslim girl in the locality in a “saffron love-trap”.
Locals said that right-wing organisations are encouraging their members to target Muslim women.
When Adnan learned about Shubham’s alleged plan to manipulate a young Muslim girl from the area, he contacted her family to warn them. The situation was later misrepresented through false rumours to protect the perpetrators.
Adnan’s elder sister strongly rejected the rumours. “This was not about ‘love jihad’. My brother did not know any Hindu girl from Shubham’s family. What happened here was a Bhagwa love-conspiracy, and Adnan opposed it because of him being a Muslim. He was aware of several such cases happening in our area, and he wanted to stop it. He had no personal vendetta — only a sense of duty,” she stated.
Adnan was the emotional and financial support for his family of four, including his parents, brothers Faizan and Subhan and one married sister. He started working as a mechanic at a young age to support his family.
“He was everything to us — the pillar of our family. We do not know how to move forward without him. How do these criminals live with such deep-seated hatred for the Muslim community? Their hands are soaked in my brother’s blood,” Faiza added.
A ‘Lion’ and a ‘Martyr’
The sequence of events began when Raj knocked on Adnan’s door while he was at the mosque for Maghrib prayers. The second time, when Adnan was preparing to leave for Isha prayers, Raj allegedly came again. This time, Adnan’s father, Abdul Jalal, invited Raj in to talk, but Raj responded evasively, saying it would not be appropriate to discuss matters in front of the women.
After the murder, the Muslim community rallied with a massive demonstration, demanding justice. The police managed to arrest Lucky and Shubham, but Raj Solanki remains at large.
“We have arrested two of the culprits, but we are still searching for Raj Solanki,” said Suresh Kumar, the head of Gandhinagar police station.
Adnan’s mother questioned the arrests, saying, “How can they arrest two criminals and leave the mastermind roaming free? This response reeks of political influence and corruption.”
The family had no knowledge of any prior dispute between Adnan and the accused. However, Adnan had shared his concerns with his cousin, Gulfam. The family believes the murderers were simply waiting for an excuse to attack Adnan because of his Muslim identity and his outspoken opposition to communal hatred and anti-Islam rhetoric.
“He was a deeply religious person, spiritually aware and caring about the well-being of the entire Muslim community. It is clear that these Right-wing groups were threatened by his courage,” alleged Faiza, adding, “My brother was a lion, and these people are mere wolves. He is a martyr.”
Despite the growing climate of fear in the region, the victim’s family remains resilient, determined to seek justice for Adnan, who died protecting a Muslim girl from a saffron conspiracy.
A conspiracy?
Elaborating on the situation, Adnan’s cousin Gulfam explained that they had contacted the girl’s family to warn them about the threat posed by the Right-wing extremists targeting Muslim women.
“They have already trapped several Muslim girls in our area,” he said. “Adnan knew about their plans, and he could not stand by and watch. These Right-wing men target Muslim women in various ways, either through a ‘Bhagwa love-trap’ or by launching communal propaganda when the girls do not give them a chance to approach.”
The family emphasised that Adnan had a profound understanding of women’s rights from an Islamic perspective and was deeply aware of the anti-Muslim, anti-women agenda of Hindutva groups that exploit and manipulate Muslim girls.
“Those who remain silent in the face of violence and oppression against Muslim women lack true faith. Demeaning and plotting against women are characteristics of Hindu extremist ideologies. Adnan opposed this with all his heart,” said his mother, bursting into tears.
“We demand strict punishment for the culprits. We feel heartbroken, but we place our faith in Allah — not in people. Insha Allah, justice will prevail,” she concluded.