Kutch: A suspected case of love jihad has emerged from Gandhidham in Gujarat’s Kutch district, where a Hindu woman, Sonam Sunar, allegedly died after being brutally assaulted by her Muslim husband, Sultan Jusab Sumra, at their residence. The police have arrested the accused and launched a detailed investigation into the incident.
According to information available so far, Sonam Sunar was originally from Nepal and had moved to Kutch with her family in search of employment. She later entered into a relationship with Sultan Jusab Sumra, and the two married in 2011. The couple reportedly lived together without major issues during the initial years of their marriage.
Sonam’s family has alleged that, over time, Sultan repeatedly pressured her to sever ties with her relatives and subjected her to physical and mental abuse. They claim that community members had previously attempted to mediate the couple’s disputes, but the alleged harassment continued.
According to the family, Sonam contacted her cousin Santosh Sunar on July 12 and said that her husband frequently assaulted her and had a violent temper. They further allege that she warned her relatives not to visit or contact her, fearing that doing so would provoke her husband.
Death under suspicious circumstances
On July 17, a dispute between the couple allegedly escalated. Police later received information about the suspicious death of a married woman in the Bharatnagar area of Gandhidham while preparations for her funeral were reportedly underway.
According to the police investigation, Sultan Jusab Sumra allegedly assaulted Sonam, causing multiple injuries that resulted in her death. Some media reports have claimed that she was tied up during the assault; however, police have not officially confirmed this aspect, stating that the investigation is still in progress. When questioned, Sultan allegedly told police that Sonam suffered from epilepsy and had died after falling.
Postmortem points to multiple injuries
During the initial investigation, police observed multiple visible injuries on Sonam’s body, raising suspicion. Officials also found a serious head injury and signs of extensive internal bleeding. Her body was first sent to the Civil Hospital for a postmortem examination and later to Jamnagar Medical College for a forensic autopsy.
According to the forensic findings cited by police, Sonam died due to multiple injuries. Following the incident, Sonam’s younger brother, Rahul Sunar, who works in Dubai, arrived in Gandhidham and filed a complaint against Sultan Jusab Sumra. Based on the complaint, East Kutch Police registered a murder case and arrested the accused. The Gandhidham A-Division Police are continuing their investigation to determine the full sequence of events.
The incident has triggered protests and expressions of anger among local residents and several Hindu organisations in Gandhidham and other parts of Kutch. Some groups have described the case as an instance of “love jihad,” although this characterisation reflects their allegation and is not a legal classification. Religious leader Yogi Devnath Bapu condemned the killing and demanded strict punishment for the accused. He also called for the case to be tried in a fast-track court to ensure a speedy trial.
In view of public reactions, police have stepped up patrolling in sensitive areas to maintain law and order. The investigation remains ongoing, and officials say evidence is being collected to establish the complete circumstances surrounding the death.
