In a significant ruling, a Bareilly court in Uttar Pradesh has sentenced a Muslim man to life imprisonment for repeated sexual assault of a Hindu woman, under the allegations of ‘Love Jihad’. Additional Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar Diwakar articulated during the proceedings that under the guise of ‘Love Jihad’, some Muslim men are planning and targeting Hindu women for conversions through deceit and marriage.
According to a report, this case highlighted the dark strategy of coercing Hindu women into changing their religion through orchestrated acts of love and marriage. Judge Diwakar pointed out that this strategy is part of a broader agenda to establish dominance or control in India by certain anarchic elements of a specific religion.
The prosecution argued that the victim, while attending a computer course at a coaching center in Bareilly, was deceived by the accused, Mohammad Alam, who introduced himself as Anand. He quickly gained her trust and falsely promised marriage within ten days. He then lured her to a hotel room where he assaulted her and recorded the act.
The ordeal continued as he blackmailed her with the video, leading to multiple assaults over time. When she became pregnant, she was coerced into having an abortion and was pressured to convert to Islam. Upon her refusal, she faced physical abuse from the accused and his family.
In his 42-page order, Judge Diwakar detailed that such acts of ‘Love Jihad’ are not isolated but are part of a coordinated effort by a syndicate that preys on non-Muslims, particularly vulnerable groups, through psychological pressure, insults to their faith, and promises of marriage and employment. He warned that without timely intervention from the Indian government, the country might face severe repercussions similar to those experienced in Pakistan and Bangladesh.
