Muslim woman officer alleges discrimination, harassment in India
Single mother says senior officials in Uttar Pradesh police auxiliary force exploited her child’s illness and targeted her over faith
NEW DELHI, India (MNTV) — A Muslim woman serving in India’s auxiliary police force has accused a senior official in Uttar Pradesh state of harassment, discrimination and demanding bribes in exchange for duty assignments, raising renewed concerns over workplace bias and treatment of Muslim employees in public institutions.
The woman, identified as Umra Khatoon, is currently serving as a Home Guard in Siddharthnagar district in northern India. She has appealed to district police authorities for justice, alleging that a senior commandant subjected her to months of mental harassment while exploiting her vulnerable family situation.
According to her complaint, the officer allegedly demanded money in exchange for assigning duties and repeatedly pressured her despite her role as the sole provider for her family.
Khatoon said her young child is physically disabled and suffers from a serious heart condition requiring constant treatment and care, making her situation especially difficult.
She alleged that instead of receiving institutional support, she faced continued intimidation and financial pressure from within her own department.
The woman also claimed she was being unfairly targeted because she belongs to India’s Muslim minority community.
“On one side I am fulfilling my duty, and on the other I am trying to care for my sick child,” she said in her complaint, according to local reports.
The case has drawn attention in Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, where Muslim groups and civil rights advocates have repeatedly raised concerns about discrimination, institutional bias and hostile treatment faced by Muslims under the administration of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu hardliner from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Muslims in the state have frequently reported difficulties linked to policing, employment, housing and administrative systems, while rights advocates have accused authorities of fostering an increasingly hostile atmosphere toward the community.
Khatoon’s allegations have also highlighted the pressures faced by women working in India’s lower-ranking security and auxiliary services, where irregular postings, financial insecurity and dependence on senior officials for assignments can leave employees vulnerable to exploitation.
Local officials said the matter had reached district authorities, while the district police chief reportedly assured that appropriate action would be taken after reviewing the complaint.
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