A young man who had come to Bhopal for a court marriage was brutally assaulted by activists of a Hindu organization on Friday afternoon, amid allegations of 'Love Jihad.' The attack, which took place within the court premises, was captured on video, sparking widespread outrage.
The footage, now circulating widely, shows members of the Hindu organization mercilessly thrashing the young man, punching him repeatedly and kicking him in the face after throwing him to the ground. The violent episode was interrupted when police arrived at the scene and took the injured victim for medical examination.
According to <sources, activists from the Sanskriti Bachao Manch and other Hindu organizations accused the young man of ‘Love Jihad’—a term used by right-wing groups to allege forced religious conversions under the guise of love and marriage. They later lodged a complaint against him at the MP Nagar police station.
The victim has been identified as Shahzad Ahmed, a resident of Narsinghpur, who had come to the Bhopal court to solemnize his marriage with a Hindu woman from Pipariya. Chandrashekhar Tiwari, President of Sanskriti Bachao Manch, accused Shahzad of deceiving the woman and bringing her to Bhopal under false pretenses. Tiwari claimed that the organization received information about the court marriage from lawyers, prompting their intervention and subsequent police involvement.
When confronted about the viral video of the assault, Tiwari justified the attack, stating that incidents involving Hindu women had fueled public anger. However, when questioned about his own involvement, he denied being part of the mob seen in the footage.
Following the incident, Hindu organizations have demanded stringent legal action against Shahzad Ahmed, pressing for charges under sections related to rape and ‘Love Jihad.’ Meanwhile, the police have taken both Shahzad and the woman into custody for further investigation.
MP Nagar Police Station In-charge, Jai Hind Sharma, confirmed that the woman’s parents had been summoned and that her statement regarding consent or coercion would be recorded upon their arrival.
Regarding the viral assault video, Sharma stated that no formal complaint had been filed in connection with the attack, nor had the police received any official footage. However, he assured that a thorough investigation into the matter would be conducted.
This incident has ignited fresh debates on moral policing, interfaith relationships, and rising instances of vigilante justice in the country.
