SIT investigation into Kanpur ‘love jihad’ cases finds no evidence of conspiracy or foreign funding

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A special investigation team formed to investigate the ‘love jihad’ incidents in Kanpur has not found any evidence of a conspiracy or foreign funding, the media said.

The report also found no evidence that the accused youth had the backing of any organization.

However, the Inspector General of Kanpur Range (IG), Mohit Agarwal, was quoted by PTI that of the 14 cases investigated, a crime was found in 11 cases. Responding to a question about the nature of these crimes, Agarwal said that in three cases, the men had “given false names to persuade the girls and the girls say they later found out that these men are of a different religion.” There were also cases in which the girls were minors, a NDTV The report quoted police as saying.

The SIT’s observations on the lack of evidence of any conspiracy or external funding are in contradiction with statements made by multiple BJP leaders and Sangh Parivar. Yogi Adityanath, before becoming the Prime Minister of Uttar Pradesh, had claimed that “love jihad” was an “international conspiracy” against India. The leader of Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Sadhvi Prachi, has also been quoted as saying that the funds for ‘love jihad’ come from Arab nations. She had stated that 10-25 lakh rupees are given to women of the Brahmin, Vaishya and ‘Shudra’ castes.

However, IG Mohit Agarwal said a charge sheet was filed in 11 cases and the defendants were arrested. It has been cited in The Indian Express saying that the charges invoked against the defendants include articles 363 (punishment for kidnapping), 366 (kidnapping, kidnapping or inducing a woman to force her into marriage, etc.) of the Indian Penal Code and other charges. In eight cases, the girls were said to be minors.

The IG said its goal is to protect girls from any conspiracy.

“If it’s a real love, then the police and the law have no problem. If the boys catch the girls saying a false name or the girl is a minor, then the law will take its own course,” he said.

On November 21, the Uttar Pradesh government announced that it had started the process to enact an Ordinance to control illegal conversions in the state. On October 31, Yogi Adityanath used the Hindu funeral chant “Ram Naam Satya Hai” in a demonstration to threaten those who “play with the honor and dignity of sisters and daughters.”

The eight-member SIT led by SP (South) Deepak Bhukar was formed as a result of complaints made by some Hindu organizations.

The SIT, headed by Deputy Superintendent of Police Vikas Pandey, was formed as a result of complaints made by some Hindu organizations.

With PTI inputs