Less than a month after story of Hadiya created ripples across the country, another case of alleged ‘Love Jihad’ has come to the fore. The father of a Hindu woman in Karnataka’s Shivamogga lodged a police complaint stating that his daughter who was forced into an inter-religious marriage has gone missing.
In his complaint, Arvind Hegde said his daughter Anusha Hegde, who was pursuing B.E. in Mysuru, was forced to marry a Muslim man.
Anusha, who wedded one Javed Khan, a civil engineer from Mysuru, has been missing since December 17, the complaint stated.
Mr Hegde alleged that unable to bear the harassment of her husband, his daughter came to his house in Shivamogga on December 5. On December 17, she did not return home after she went shopping, and has been missing since then. The complainant suspects that the husband came to Shivamogga, The Hindu reported.
Anusha, however, refuted the allegations contending that she married Javed on her own will and there was no compulsion.
Indian Express
Superintendent of Police Abhinav Khare said that the parents of the woman had lodged a similar complaint with the police in Mysuru and the woman had then said the marriage had taken place on her consent, according to The Hindu.
However, the police would inquire into the fresh complaint, Mr Khare added.
Hindutva Brigade threatens reverse love Jihad
Revved up with conspiracy theories surrounding ‘love jihad’, the Hindutva brigade in Karnataka have threatened to launch ‘reverse love Jihad’.
Satyajit Surathkal, a leader of Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, said if police don’t decisively deal with this issue, his organisation will soon launch “reverse love jihad, where Hindu youth will start wooing Muslim girls, convert them and marry them.
Durga Vahini, the women’s wing of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, claimed to have launched an awareness programme at the ward level along with an intensive watch-and-report system at all high schools, girls’ schools and colleges.
Their network of informers includes student organisations, teachers’ associations, government employees, bus drivers, conductors, autorickshaw drivers and so on.
Also Read: I have not got the freedom I wanted: Hadiya
Recently, a 20-year-old Hindu woman in Mangaluru was forced to end her relationship with a Muslim man after sustained pressure from a right-wing group. Apparently, members of Durga Vahini “counselled” the woman, alleging that her boyfriend was a drug dealer.
Hadiya (Photo Courtesy: The Indian Express)
The threat by the right-wing forces come even as Hadiya’s case is pending in the Supreme Court. The argument by NIA that women have been lured by radical Islamists and the High Court ruling that declared Hadiya’s marriage as void, has vindicated the long-held stance of Hindutva vigilantes.
