BHUBANESWAR: A case linked to a planned “love jihad” has emerged in Odisha’s Kendrapada district. Allegations have surfaced that a married Muslim man misrepresented himself as unmarried, lured Hindu women into romantic relationships, and subsequently married them. So far, he is accused of targeting two Hindu women. It is further alleged that to promote love jihad, certain Muslim organisations provided financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh per marriage for marrying a Hindu woman. These allegations were made by a Muslim woman against her husband, prompting a complaint to be lodged with the Kendrapada police.
The complainant has been identified as Farida Khatoon, a resident of the Kendrapada Sadar police station area. She filed a complaint against her husband, Saijuddin Khan, prompting the police to initiate an investigation into her allegations.
In her application to the Superintendent of Police, Farida Khatoon, who lives in the Nasdipur area of Kendrapada town, stated that she married Saijuddin Khan of Jamdhar village under the Sadar police station in 2020. The couple has a child together. According to Farida, about two years after the birth of their child, Saijuddin left her.
Farida alleged that after leaving her, her husband lured a Hindu woman into a romantic relationship and married her. Approximately a year later, he married another Muslim woman. Most recently, around a month ago, he lured yet another Hindu woman into a relationship and married her as well. The complaint further states that Saijuddin repeatedly claimed to be unmarried in order to deceive these women.
According to the complaint, Farida Khatoon has made serious allegations, claiming that Muslim organisations offer ₹10 lakh per marriage for marrying women from the Hindu community. She asserted that her husband received a total of ₹20 lakh after marrying two Hindu women. These allegations are currently under investigation.
Farida further alleged that despite being married, Saijuddin continued to present himself as unmarried, lured innocent Hindu women into relationships, established physical relations with them, and later coerced them into marriage. She also claimed that after receiving the money, he abandoned these women.
The case took a new turn when the father of a woman from the Nagapura area, whom the accused is alleged to have taken to Hyderabad, also approached the Kendrapada Superintendent of Police and complained. He accused Saijuddin of misleading his daughter, marrying her, and taking her away.
Kendrapada Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kataria stated that the matter is being taken seriously and is currently under police investigation. He emphasised that necessary action would be taken in accordance with the law after verifying the facts.
Meanwhile, the incident has sparked public outrage in the Kendrapada district. Local residents have expressed concern over the alarming revelations made by the Muslim woman who lodged the police complaint, insisting that the police administration should not take them lightly. They claim that there have been repeated reports of “love jihad” cases in the district, where Muslim youths misrepresent themselves as Hindus to lure Hindu girls into romantic relationships, ultimately leading to marriage.
Additionally, locals have alleged that this activity is being conducted in a systematic manner, potentially with financial backing from certain Muslim organisations. They are demanding an investigation to identify the organisations allegedly involved and are urging the Odisha government to implement stringent laws against love jihad, similar to those enacted in Uttar Pradesh and Assam.
