Tension gripped Shajapur’s Bercha police station area on Tuesday (September 30) after villagers intercepted a Muslim youth absconding with a Hindu girl. The youth, identified as Sharif, a resident of village Dendla, was beaten by locals near village Berchi. In anger, villagers also set his motorcycle on fire.
Police rushed to the spot, rescued the injured youth, and took him to Shajapur district hospital. However, given the seriousness of his condition, doctors referred him to Indore for advanced treatment.
The matter gained wider attention after Hindu organisations declared it a clear case of “love jihad.”
According to Additional SP Ghanshyam Malviya, “Unidentified people thrashed Sharif near Berchi and burnt his motorcycle. Meanwhile, efforts are underway to trace the missing girl from Maksi police station area.”
The girl’s family had earlier lodged a complaint against Sharif, accusing him of abducting her. On Monday (September 29), they submitted a memorandum at the Superintendent of Police’s office demanding immediate action.
Shajapur MLA Arun Bhimavad had also intervened, warning police officials of strict action if they failed to recover the missing girl promptly.
The incident comes a day after a large protest outside the SP office, where the girl’s family, community members, and Hindu organisations accused the police of negligence.
Activists of the Hindu Jagran Manch alleged that despite a named complaint, police failed to trace the girl in time. Senior leader Anup Kirikire warned of major agitation if the girl was not found soon. He said, “Police are ignoring growing jihadi challenges in the district. If they fail to act, Hindu society will be forced to take to the streets.”
Adding to the pressure, Patidar community president Jugal Nahar demanded that bulldozer action be taken against the house of the accused Sharif. He also appealed to police to intensify the search for the missing girl, stressing that her immediate recovery was necessary to restore confidence among locals.
Police revealed that since Sunday, joint teams of officers, the girl’s relatives, and local community leaders had been searching for both the youth and the girl. On Tuesday afternoon, Sharif was finally spotted near Berchi village, leading to the violent episode.
The case has now taken a communal and political turn, with Hindu organisations highlighting it as part of a pattern of “love jihad” cases, while authorities are attempting to maintain law and order amid rising tensions.
The Shajapur administration now faces mounting pressure from both Hindu organisations and political representatives to act decisively, while also ensuring that communal tensions do not escalate further.
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