A controversy has surfaced from Bilari town in the Moradabad district of Uttar Pradesh after a video began circulating online showing a Hindu schoolgirl allegedly being forced to wear a burqa by her Muslim classmates while returning from a tuition class.

The incident has drawn widespread attention and concern, leading the police to take formal action. Based on a complaint filed by the girl’s brother, an FIR was registered on Thursday, 22nd January, against five Muslim students. The brother has also alleged that his sister was being pressured to convert to Islam, making the matter more serious and sensitive.

The incident reportedly took place on 20th December last year in Sahoo Kunj Colony, an area known for several coaching and tuition centres. Students from nearby villages and rural areas regularly come to this locality for their studies. After the video was widely shared on social media and triggered public outrage, the police took cognisance of the matter and initiated an investigation to determine the full sequence of events and the intent behind the actions seen in the footage.

One Hindu student among five Muslim classmates

According to media reports, the tuition centre in Sahoo Kunj Colony is attended by students from Lari Nagar, nearby villages, and rural regions. Six girl students from an inter-college located in Sahaspur village are enrolled in the same coaching institute. Among these six students, one girl is Hindu, while the remaining five are Muslim.

In his complaint, the brother stated that his sister is 17 years old and currently studying in Class 12. She attends the coaching centre regularly as part of her academic routine. He alleged that over time, her five Muslim classmates repeatedly tried to influence her, asking her to wear a burqa and pressuring her to convert to Islam. According to him, these actions were persistent and not isolated incidents.

The brother described a disturbing sequence of events, stating, “Once, some girls took my sister to a restaurant. All five of them ordered food there. During that time, the girls mixed something into the food. My sister fell into their trap and started feeling heavy in the head. After that, my sister stopped listening to anything our family said.

He further claimed that even after the family warned her, the girl continued to go to school and coaching only with those Muslim classmates. He added, “Even after being warned, she continued going to school and coaching only with those Muslim girls. I took her to a sadhu, who also said that someone had done something to her.

Referring to the day of the incident, the brother said, “On 20th December, the Muslim girls left the tuition centre and then went into another lane near the coaching centre. There, they made my sister wear a burqa. My sister later told me the entire story.” These statements form a central part of the complaint submitted to the police.

Brother alleges a planned attempt behind the act

In his written complaint to the police, the girl’s brother stated that the actions of the five Muslim students were not casual, friendly, or playful in nature. Instead, he alleged that there was a deeper and more serious intention behind their behaviour. He claimed that it was a planned effort to influence his sister’s religious beliefs and ultimately force her to convert. On this basis, he demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter.

SP Rural Kunwar Akash Singh confirmed that the police have registered an FIR against the five Muslim girls under Sections 3 and 5(1) of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Act. He stated that the authorities are treating the case seriously and that further action will depend on the findings of the ongoing investigation.

The viral video shows a group of students walking together after leaving the coaching centre. During this time, one Muslim student is seen placing her burqa over the Hindu girl. The burqa is removed shortly afterward. However, someone present at the location recorded the incident, and the video later spread rapidly across social media platforms.

As the video gained traction online, it triggered strong reactions from local residents as well as Hindu organisations. The growing public response and concern ultimately prompted the police to step in and formally address the issue through legal action.