In recent years, the internet has evolved into a powerful tool for social interaction, information dissemination, and even political activism. However, its misuse has become increasingly apparent, particularly in how radical ideologies exploit digital spaces to control narratives and marginalize communities. One such disturbing trend is the rise of a propaganda campaign titled the “Bhagwa (Saffron) Love Trap,” spearheaded by Islamist factions aiming to surveil and punish Muslim women for their personal relationships and friendships with Hindu men.
At its core, the campaign is an extension of digital vigilantism masked as religious protection. Under this propaganda, Muslim women who are in relationships—or are even merely seen in public—with Hindu men are vilified, their personal details published online, and their character publicly attacked. The ostensible goal is to “protect imaan” (faith), but in practice, this has translated into deeply invasive and harmful behavior that targets women’s autonomy, freedom of association, and bodily safety.
Digital Harassment and Doxing: A Coordinated Assault
Social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram have become breeding grounds for this hate campaign. Accounts like “Islamic_Contenth” and “@itsme_jk” are actively involved in sharing personal information about interfaith couples. They post images, social media profiles, and even contact numbers of Muslim girls seen with Hindu boys, with captions that include slurs, threats, and moral judgments.
This type of doxing isn’t isolated. It is coordinated and deliberate. Entire threads exist where hundreds, even thousands, of such “cases” are documented with an aim to shame the women and rally public opinion against them. In many posts, girls are referred to as “mistresses,” “traitors,” or worse. These digital mobs not only violate privacy but also create an atmosphere of communal hostility and fear.
On Instagram, where visual content spreads rapidly, the problem is worse. Muslim girls are filmed without consent—whether riding scooters, walking in public, or simply speaking with friends. These videos are then posted with inflammatory captions. Sometimes, the harassment extends into physical space, with girls being followed, interrogated, and coerced into calling their families on camera to deny any relationship with a Hindu boy. If the girl severs ties, the act is celebrated as a “case solved.”
The Real-World Fallout: Violence Beyond the Screen
The consequences of this toxic campaign have extended far beyond the digital realm. In Muzaffarnagar in April 2025, a Muslim girl and her Hindu friend were brutally attacked by a mob after they were seen together near a sweet shop. The mob not only thrashed the boy but also forcibly pulled off the girl’s burqa, subjecting her to public humiliation and abuse. Six people were later arrested in connection with the incident.
In an even more horrifying case in January 2024, a group of seven Muslim men abducted a woman from a hotel in Haveri, Karnataka, and raped her. Their justification? She was being “punished” for associating with a Hindu man and not adhering to religious norms. The crime, which the perpetrators claimed was in defense of their religion, was met with outrage. Yet when these men were granted bail in May 2025, their community celebrated their release with a so-called “victory parade.” The bail of four of them was later revoked due to public outcry, but the damage—both physical and psychological—was already done.
Propaganda Machinery and Misinformation
The Bhagwa Love Trap narrative is not limited to individual acts of extremism. It has grown into an organized propaganda machine. Posters and banners warning against the “saffron trap” have been distributed both online and in physical communities. Organizations such as the Ehsaas Foundation have been linked to the dissemination of this material, which urges Muslim families to monitor their daughters’ relationships and discourage them from using mobile phones or engaging with the outside world.
These messages frame Hindu men as manipulators and predators, luring Muslim girls into relationships for ulterior motives. In one widely circulated poster, Muslim parents are warned that mobile phones are stealing their daughters away from their faith. The narrative echoes deeply patriarchal and conservative ideologies that view women’s freedom as a threat to community honor.
Misinformation by Influencers and the Financial Trap Myth
Among the voices amplifying this propaganda is Ali Sohrab, a self-styled journalist who frequently posts radical Islamist content. He claims that Hindu boys are financially incentivized to form relationships with Muslim girls, alleging government-backed conspiracies behind these interactions. However, such allegations lack any factual basis.
In fact, scrutiny of the so-called “Bhagwa Love Trap” reveals that Hindu men involved in these relationships rarely hide their religious identity. They often wear religious symbols, use their real names on social media, and are openly Hindu. This undermines the comparison with “love jihad,” where deception of identity is a central element.
Sohrab’s claims are part of a larger misinformation campaign that weaponizes communal fears to enforce regressive gender norms and restrict women’s freedom. Rather than engaging with verified facts, these influencers propagate conspiracy theories that deepen divisions and encourage vigilante behavior.
The Broader Implications: Gendered Moral Policing
The Bhagwa Love Trap campaign is a textbook case of moral policing with a communal edge. It targets women for making personal choices and weaponizes religion to justify control, surveillance, and violence. The core ideology here is not about preserving faith but about preserving patriarchal control over women.
The implication is clear: Muslim women are being denied agency. Their relationships are scrutinized, their movements monitored, and their choices questioned—not by family alone, but by the wider digital and physical community. In such a climate, even basic freedoms such as using a smartphone or talking to friends can become grounds for public shaming or worse.
What Needs to Be Done
Social Media Regulation:
Platforms like X and Instagram must implement stricter policies to combat doxing, hate speech, and gendered harassment. Reporting mechanisms should be made more responsive and transparent.
Law Enforcement Intervention:
Law enforcement agencies need to treat online threats as precursors to real-world crimes. Those engaging in harassment, stalking, or issuing threats must be prosecuted under relevant cybercrime and IPC provisions.
Community Awareness:
Community leaders must step up to challenge these narratives from within. Religious identity should not be used as a weapon against personal freedom.
Support for Victims:
Victims of such campaigns must have access to legal aid, mental health counseling, and digital security support to rebuild their lives.
Media Literacy:
Educational institutions and NGOs should promote media literacy to help young people critically evaluate online content and resist extremist propaganda.
Conclusion
The “Bhagwa Love Trap” campaign is not just another internet trend—it is a calculated, dangerous movement that combines digital vigilantism with real-world violence. Under the pretext of protecting faith, it undermines the personal freedom, dignity, and safety of Muslim women. It perpetuates a culture where women’s bodies and choices become battlegrounds for communal supremacy.
The path forward lies not in silence, but in collective resistance—through legal action, public discourse, and strong community support. We must ensure that the digital world does not become a space for hate to flourish unchecked and that real-world consequences are met with real-world accountability.