New Delhi: Hindutva workers set two houses belonging to the family of a Muslim man on fire in Agra. The man had been accused of “love jihad” in spite of the Hindu woman in the relationship saying in a video that she had willingly gone with him.
Eight people were arrested in connection with the arson.
Rightwing Hindutva groups coined and popularised the phrase ‘Love jihad’ by alleging an unproven conspiracy led by Muslims to convert Hindu women into Islam through marriage.
Members of the Hindutva group known as Dharam Jagran Samanvay Sangh on Friday, April 15 torched the house in the city’s Runakta locality, where Sajid Qureshi, a gym owner, stayed. An adjoining house belonging to the family was also set on fire. The Wire reported.
Demanding his arrest for “kidnapping” the woman, the mob set the houses on fire. 22 years old woman’s father told reporters in Agra his daughter was a BA student at a college in Mathura.
Journalist Mohammed Zubair has tweeted that following threads:
Muslim Youth Sajid Married Ritika. Local right-wing outfit Dharm Jagran Samanvay Sangh set his houses on fire to demand his arrest for allegedly eloped with a Minor girl. The police said the minor was in fact an and had gone with him willingly.
Ritika’s family members, RW and locals alleged that Sajid had kidnapped the minor four days ago and demanded his arrest. Sajid’s family had locked their house and had gone elsewhere because of constant threats. At the time of the incident, no family member was inside the house.
