A missing girl from Mangaluru has been found with Mohammad Ashfaq, a notorious youth with a criminal background. The girl, a student at a private college in Mangaluru, was reported missing at the Pandeshwar police station. After a thorough investigation, the police located her with Ashfaq.
Mohammad Ashfaq, already married, has eight criminal cases registered against him at the Vidyanagar police station in Kasaragod. The girl’s father filed a complaint with the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, alleging that his daughter was kidnapped and forcibly converted to Islam.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has labeled this incident as a case of “Love Jihad,” a term used to describe alleged campaigns by Muslim men targeting non-Muslim women for conversion to Islam by feigning love. VHP leader Sharan Pumpwell stated, “Love Jihad is increasing in the coastal region. The Hindu community needs to be alert against this. To curb the conversion of Hindu girls in the name of love and marriage, strong laws need to be implemented in the country.”
The girl’s father’s complaint includes allegations of forced conversion. The police are currently investigating the circumstances of the girl’s association with Ashfaq, including whether she went with him willingly or was coerced. The investigation will clarify these details and determine the appropriate actions.
This case has sparked a debate on the necessity of stringent laws to prevent forced conversions and protect vulnerable individuals in the community.