How UP’s Haidari Gang Is Harassing Muslim Girls Spotted With Hindu Boys In The Name Of Protection

Last Updated:July 07, 2025, 14:21 IST

UP’s Haidari Gang: Claiming to protect Muslim women from “Bhagwa (saffron) jihad” of Hindu boys, the group focuses on public surveillance, intimidation, and digital shaming

Clips from the videos uploaded by UP's Haidari gang. (X)

UP’s Haidari Gang: Uttar Pradesh is witnessing the emergence of a new group of moral police – the Haidari gang or Haidari Dal, which targets Muslim girls spotted with boys from other faiths, particularly Hindus, in public spaces such as malls and parks. The group, which films the confrontations and uploads the clips to spread hate, has sparked fear on the streets and fury online.

In a recent crackdown, the UP Police has arrested six men, frozen their bank accounts, and uncovered a growing digital network of harassment masked as religious duty.

Police investigations and social media content reveal a coordinated campaign of moral policing, intimidation, and religious hatred.

A Festival Turned Flashpoint

The gang first came to public attention on June 7, 2025, the day of Eid al-Adha (Bakrid), when a group of Muslim girls celebrating the festival at Bareilly’s Gandhi Park was approached, interrogated, and harassed by four men. The entire episode was captured on mobile phones by members of the same group and later uploaded to Instagram with captions claiming to “protect hijab" and “resist saffron jihad". Public outrage followed swiftly, prompting Bareilly Police to launch an investigation that has since exposed a larger network.

Inside the Haidari gang

At its core, Haidari Dal functions less like a religious organisation and more like a decentralised vigilante cult. Claiming to protect Muslim women from “Bhagwa (saffron) jihad" — a term coined as a counter to the Hindu right-wing’s “love jihad" narrative — the group instead focuses on public surveillance, intimidation, and digital shaming.

Organised through WhatsApp groups and financed via QR-code donations, its members actively scout parks, malls, and cafes for interfaith groups — particularly Muslim women accompanied by Hindu men. Videos of these encounters, often confrontational and threatening, are uploaded to Instagram accounts with incendiary captions. Far from moral guardians, the Haidari Dal operates as a digital hate network, blending misogyny with religious extremism.

Harassment disguised as ‘protection’

In the now-deleted viral videos, Haidari members are seen questioning Muslim girls, demanding to know their names and personal details. Police investigations revealed that what seemed isolated was, in fact, an orchestrated campaign. Officers uncovered 68 Instagram accounts and over a dozen WhatsApp groups associated with the gang. These platforms were not just used to share videos — they served as planning hubs, funding platforms, and recruitment channels.

Crackdown and arrests

So far, six men, all in their early 20s — Shahbaz alias Sufiyan, Sameer Raza, Riyazuddin, Jaish, Shanu, and Nabi Hasan – have been arrested. The group is accused of filming objectionable content, promoting communal hate, and even physical assault. Sufiyan, believed to be the primary handler of the @haidari_dal_bareilly Instagram account, had over 4,000 followers and uploaded the controversial Gandhi Park video.

Among the most serious cases is that of Nabi Hasan, arrested from Shahjahanpur. His phone revealed not only group chats and radical content but also pornographic videos involving a minor, leading to charges under the POCSO Act.

“We received the first credible tip around mid-June," said SP City Manush Pareek. “Upon analysis, we realised their central motive was to harass women under the pretext of protecting religious values. This was targeted, coordinated, and dangerous."

Two bank accounts have been frozen, used to collect funds via QR codes circulated in closed groups. Police are also tracking IP addresses and digital footprints linked to similar groups in Rajasthan, Indore, and other regions.

Hate in the name of faith

Investigations further revealed a disturbing twist — the involvement of a local imam, who allegedly promoted the group in private WhatsApp forums. According to CO Ashutosh Shivam, the cleric shared QR codes and urged followers to donate “Rs200 or more to protect our Muslim sisters". Police are actively searching for him following testimonies from the arrested members.

People, however, have condemned the group’s ideology and actions, drawing parallels with Hindu right-wing outfits like Bajrang Dal, but operating with an Islamic extremist slant. Posts by Haidari Dal commonly use hashtags like #HijabIsOurHonor and #SaveOurSisters, often alongside violent rhetoric.

“This is a direct assault on personal liberty," said Mufti Shahabuddin Razvi Barelvi, president of the All India Muslim Jamaat. “Radicalisation is rising on both sides. If society doesn’t step up, we risk losing an entire generation to hate."

Surveillance in public spaces

In the aftermath of the Gandhi Park incident, Bareilly authorities have ramped up security. At the park’s entry, security guards now check Aadhaar cards of mixed-gender groups. If a pair appears to be from different communities, they are reportedly asked to leave.

“Now we ask for ID. If we suspect a Hindu-Muslim pair, we don’t allow them in," said Rohit, a security guard posted at Gandhi Park. “The police also patrol here daily now."

A network far from dismantled

Despite the arrests, police believe the Haidari network is far from finished. Accounts like @haidari_dal_rajasthan remain active, with over 300 followers and 24 incendiary videos. These accounts often show Muslim youth confronting couples, filming without consent, and passing it off as community service.

“This is not just a local disturbance," SP Pareek warned. “This is about safeguarding both the dignity of women and communal harmony. More arrests will follow," he added.

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