Indore Police Uncovers Love Jihad Conspiracy Involving Congress Councillor

Authorities in Indore, Madhya Pradesh, have revealed a conspiracy related to Love Jihad targeting Hindu girls. Notably, a Congress councillor has been accused of funding this operation. Legal action has been initiated against the councillor for allegedly being involved in a scheme to convert individuals through financial means, and efforts are underway to locate him. According to Siyarama Gurjar, the officer in charge of the Bhanganga police station, two suspects, Sahil Sheikh and Altaf Shah, were recently arrested for crimes including the assault of two young women under the guise of romance. During police questioning, both suspects admitted that they received a total of three lakh rupees from Congress councillor Anwar Qadri to lure the victims into conversion, which they spent on the young women.

Gurjar stated that a case has been filed against Qadri under relevant legal provisions for his involvement in the conspiracy to convert individuals through financial incentives, and he is currently being sought by the police. The suspects revealed that Qadri instructed them to marry Hindu women and subsequently involve them in prostitution.

It is worth noting that similar incidents of Love Jihad were reported recently at a college in Bhopal. Five individuals were arrested for allegedly assaulting female students while concealing their identities and blackmailing them with videos. The main suspect, Farhan Ali, disclosed during police custody that he had formed a gang of Muslim boys in college who exclusively befriended Hindu girls. The gang had a strict rule against forming relationships with Muslim girls. Farhan described his actions as a good deed, expressing no remorse for his behavior.

This raises questions about the actions taken by the police and state government regarding the Bhopal case. While the authorities claim to have established stringent laws, incidents of Love Jihad continue to rise. Concerns arise regarding the root causes of this issue and potential solutions. Senior advocate Ashwini Upadhyay, known for his public interest litigation efforts, has made significant statements on these matters that deserve attention.

According to allegations, Sahil befriended a young woman on Instagram while posing as a Hindu about five months ago. On May 12, he lured her to a friend's room under the pretense of marriage and engaged in sexual relations. Later, on May 30, he invited her to a café in Scheme 54, where he also assaulted her. Reports indicate that Sahil revealed his Muslim identity to the victim and pressured her to convert, promising to provide any financial support she requested. He then forced her to wear a burqa. After his arrest, Sahil mentioned that he met Anwar Qadri at a social event, where Qadri allegedly gave him two lakh rupees to further this agenda. Altaf has also reportedly acknowledged receiving one lakh rupees from Qadri.

Meanwhile, Sumit Mishra, the president of the local BJP unit, stated, 'Qadri is running a Love Jihad gang. We have urged the police to conduct a thorough investigation into the case against Qadri and to arrest him under the NSA. His properties and gun licenses should also be scrutinized.' As of now, there has been no official response from the Congress party regarding the allegations against Qadri. It is important to note that the term 'Love Jihad' is used by right-wing groups to claim that Muslim men ensnare women of other faiths in romantic relationships to convert them to Islam.