Several Hindu organisations have launched initiatives to combat the trend so as to protect vulnerable girls and prevent forced conversions. Notably, these groups include Hindu Jagran Manch, Rudra Sena, and Vaidik Mission, have mobilized their volunteers across the region to confront what they see as a growing problem.
Hindu Jagran Manch
Mukesh Anand, representing the Hindu Jagran Manch, highlighted that the last decade, their organisation has come up with 585 cases of love jihad. He stressed that most of the victims were minors, and the organisation has been playing a key role in reuniting them with their families.
Vaidik Mission’s Legal Battle
Jagveer Saini, a prominent figure from Vaidik Mission, stated similar concerns. He mentioned that the Pashwa Doon region has witnessed at least 43 such cases, many of which are presently under legal scrutiny. The organisation is actively fighting in a court on behalf of four poor girls who, as per Saini, were victimized by Muslim men posing as potential romantic partners. He emphasized that not only minors but even adult women are often influenced and deceived in such situations and they become victims of love jihad.
Saini raised concerns about the cases of love jihad that remain unreported, hidden within the folds of missing person files that have been closed without adequate investigation. He fears that these missing girls who have been the victim of love jihad may either have been forced into religious conversion.
Rise in Cases Of Love Jihad
Rakesh Tomar ‘Uttarakhandi’, a leader of Rudra Sena, claims that Muslim men from neighbouring regions are targeting girls, particularly from the Jaunsar Bawar tribal belt. He said that these men use fake identities and various tactics to lure underprivileged and minor girls into romantic relationships, eventually subjecting them to sexual exploitation.
Tomar said that over the past two and a half years, Rudra Sena has successfully rescued 38 girls from what he earns as the clutches of love jihad.
These girls were reunited with their families, and the organisation claims to have filed police reports as proof of their work. He further alleges that these cases often involve taking girls to areas like Pashwa Doon, Uttar Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh, where they are further exploited.
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