Pandeshwar police in Mangaluru city located a missing Hindu girl with Muhammad Ashpak, a notorious Muslim youth with a criminal background. Ashpak, 29, has eight criminal cases registered against him at the Vidyanagar police station in Kasaragod and is married. The Hindu girl, a student at a private college in Mangaluru, had been reported missing by her family, prompting an investigation.
During the investigation, Pandeshwar police traced the girl with Ashpak, raising concerns about her safety and the nature of their relationship. The girl’s father lodged a complaint with the Mangaluru Police Commissioner, alleging that Ashpak kidnapped his daughter and forcibly converted her to Islam. This incident has fueled allegations of “love jihad,” a term used to describe alleged efforts to convert Hindu women to Islam through marriage.
Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) leader Sharan Pumpwell condemned the incident, stating, “Love Jihad is rising on the coast. Hindu society needs to wake up against this. A strong law needs to be introduced in the country to curb the conversion of young Hindu women in the name of love and marriage.”
The police are investigating whether the girl went with Ashpak willingly or was coerced. This investigation aims to clarify the relationship’s nature and the circumstances under which she left. The outcome will likely influence public opinion and may lead to calls for legal reforms. This case highlights the complex and sensitive nature of interfaith relationships in India and the communal tensions that can arise. Authorities are urged to handle the situation carefully to ensure justice and maintain communal harmony.