Uttarakhand: CM calls for strict action after 13 'love jihad' cases come to light

Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami has assured strict action in connection with 13 'love jihad' cases, which have emerged from the hill state.

Dehradun (Uttarakhand): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami has vowed strict action against those involved in the 'love jihad' cases in the state.

"We have called for a strict probe and action against love jihad cases. We will chair a high-level meeting with the Director General of Police (DGP) and other officials," Pushkar Singh Dhami told reporters here on Friday. Uttarakhand, the hill state, is seeing increasing cases of love jihad. So far 13 cases of conversion have been registered in the state. Most of the cases have been registered in Dehradun, Haridwar, and the Udham Singh Nagar districts. The Chief Minister has also said that police will not back down from taking strict action against the culprits.

An incident of 'love jihad' had created a ruckus in some areas of Purola of Uttarkashi and Chamoli. The issue started on May 27 in Purola town after two youths allegedly tried to ‘take away’ a local Hindu girl. Two boys namely Obaid, a Muslim, and another Jitender Saini were caught by locals with a local girl, studying in standard 9. The right-wing bodies charged the youth with enticing away a minor girl and it was a case of ‘Love Jihad’ prompting bandhs, demonstrations, and protests in the other towns of the district.

Superintendent of Police Raghuvanshi has said that cops will not allow people to create law and order issues. Another instance of 'love jihad' had come to the fore in Gochar. Two Muslim youths had lured a 15-year-old Hindu girl and took her to a hotel. Police, however, arrested the duo and sent the minor girl to her house. Another instance of 'love jihad' had come to light from Dharmanagari in Haridwar.