Tension gripped Mirzapur late Wednesday as a police pursuit turned into a high-stakes shootout, resulting in the capture of Farid, a key figure in a shocking gym-based extortion and conversion syndicate. The encounter unfolded in the Dehat Kotwali jurisdiction at Khadanja Fall, where officers moved in based on a tip-off.
Farid, wanted in several FIRs for masquerading fitness sessions as a cover for blackmail, forced conversions, and financial extortion, panicked and fired upon the police team. Officers returned fire in self-defense, wounding him in the leg and ending the confrontation without further casualties.
The injured accused was promptly transported to a trauma facility for care, while police touted this as the fifth arrest in a sprawling investigation. Earlier takedowns included the gym proprietor and three associates, all now behind bars, with four gym outlets sealed shut.
The scandal traces back to KGN Gym in Sadar Tehsil Colony, where female complainants detailed a pattern of entrapment: trainers feigned friendships to ensnare victims in love traps, coerced them into religious conversion, subjected them to abuse, recorded illicit videos, and demanded ransoms.
Seven individuals face serious charges stemming from these complaints. Hindu Jagraran Manch’s district head Keshavwani revealed the gym’s 10-12 year history with 3-4 branches, asserting prior intelligence on love jihad operations. Victim family interventions unraveled the plot, fueling demands for comprehensive crackdowns.