Love Jihad Assam: 24-year-old Hindu woman abducted by Bangladeshi national using fake Hindu identity, safely recovered

In a swift operation, Silchar police have successfully apprehended a youth from Tripura near the Bangladesh border, following allegations of his involvement in a love affair with a Hindu girl that led to their elopement. The accused, identified as Mumin, is alleged to be Bangladeshi by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), raising concerns of a potential love jihad case. However, Police Superintendent Nomal Mahatta has emphasised the need for a thorough investigation before drawing any conclusions.

According to Mahatta, the girl, who worked at a health center owned by Dr. Samsur Rahman, a Congress nomination claimant for the Karimganj Lok Sabha seat, returned to her family on Wednesday night. Mumin was subsequently apprehended from a location near the Bangladesh border in Tripura and was in transit to Silchar at the time of the statement.

Mumin claims to be a resident of Tripura, and the police are currently verifying his statement. The girl’s mother has alleged that Mumin deceived her daughter by initially presenting himself as a Hindu. After establishing a relationship, he purportedly disclosed his religious identity, leading the girl to attempt to end the relationship.

The mother further claims that Mumin resorted to blackmail using doctored images, threatening to make them public. She reported her daughter missing since January 7, asserting that she was kidnapped by Mumin.

“The boy first said he is a resident of Punjab and he is a Hindu. Later he said his house is in Tripura, lastly he revealed, he is a Muslim and a resident of Bangladesh. My daughter was forced to go with him and their last location was traced at Tripura’s Sonamora near the India-Bangladesh border,” she said.

Mithun Nath of VHP asserts that Mumin is a Bangladeshi, categorising the incident as a love jihad case. Dr. Rahman, however, states that the woman, approximately 26 years old, used to work at the swimming pool he manages but has been absent from her duties since October 3.

Meanwhile, Social worker Sujit Das Choudhary said that local businessmen like Rabi Master and Dr Samsur Haque Lakar, a Congress party member (owner of a swimming pool) are involved in this alleged human trafficking racket.

“They employ local Hindu girls in swimming pool gyms, etc. They allow Bangladeshi boys to work along with the girls and those boys get involved with the girls. They make objectionable videos of the girls and blackmail them. They take the girls to Tripura and sell them in Bangladesh,” he said.

Cachar Police shared details of the recovery with local media, with SP Numal Mahatta stating, “After the incident was brought to our notice, we traced their location by tracking their mobile phones. They were in Tripura at the Bangladesh border. That is when I got in touch with the Border Security Forces, and both of them were safely brought into our custody following a coordinated search operation. The victim has been rescued, and the accused has been arrested.” The case underscores the complex dynamics involved in such situations, and investigations are ongoing to determine the facts surrounding the alleged love affair and kidnapping.