A disturbing incident has emerged from Anjaneya Nagar in Dharwad, where a married Muslim man named Munna, hailing from Ramadurga in Belgaum district, is accused of absconding with a woman named Tangemma. This has led to growing concerns and protests in the community, particularly after the involvement of the Sri Ram Sena, which has raised alarms over the incident, alleging it to be a case of “love jihad.”
Munna, who had been living in a rented house opposite Tangemma’s residence for the past six months, is reported to have developed a relationship with her during this period. Despite being already married with two children, Munna allegedly initiated a romantic relationship with Tangemma and convinced her to elope with him.
What makes the situation even more troubling is the fact that Tangemma was also married, but had not yet moved to her husband’s home. The relationship between Munna and Tangemma reportedly developed rapidly, leading to her sudden disappearance. A missing person’s complaint was filed by Tangemma’s family at the Upanagar police station on July 11. However, more than a month and a half later, neither Munna nor Tangemma has been located, leaving their families in distress.
According to Tangemma’s family, Munna had also borrowed a significant amount of money from Tangemma’s mother before disappearing. The prolonged absence of any leads in the investigation has fueled frustration among the family and community, leading to a protest organised by Sri Ram Sena, who allege that this incident is part of a larger pattern they refer to as “love jihad.”
The protesters, led by Sri Ram Sena’s State Working President Gangadhar Kulkarni, have accused the police of negligence and demanded immediate action. They expressed outrage that only a missing person case had been registered against Munna, instead of a more serious charge of abduction. The protesters called for the police to treat the case as one of “love jihad,” a term used by some groups to describe what they allege are efforts to convert Hindu women through marriage to Muslim men.
During the protest, Kulkarni claimed that 44,000 Hindu women have gone missing across the State, asserting that the police have failed to take adequate measures to address these cases. He and other activists demanded that the police locate Munna and Tangemma within a week and register a case of “love jihad” against Munna. The situation has stirred tensions in the area, with the Sri Ram Sena warning of intensified protests if their demands are not met.
Tangemma’s family, meanwhile, remains in a State of despair. Her parents, who have been actively seeking her return, are frustrated with the lack of progress in the investigation. The family of her husband, too, finds themselves in a difficult position, unsure of how to proceed as the search for Tangemma drags on with no end in sight.
The case has brought to the forefront broader concerns about interfaith relationships and the allegations surrounding them, which have become a contentious issue in the region. The demand for registering a case under “love jihad” highlights the sensitive nature of the issue, which has the potential to further polarise communities.
As the days pass without any resolution, the pressure on law enforcement to resolve the case intensifies. The community awaits answers, and the outcome of this case may have broader implications for how such incidents are handled in the future.
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