‘Don’t want to go home, family might kill me,’ says Hindu woman who eloped with a Muslim man

Woman who is now under police protection says she won’t return home as her family may kill her

Police have arrested nine persons and 20 named and 200 unnamed persons have been booked under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), 147 (rioting). | ANI photo

Lucknow: After a group of men belonging to two Hindutva organisations set ablaze two houses belonging to the family of a 26-year-old Muslim man who eloped with a 22-year-old Hindu girl, police have arrested nine persons.

Police added that 20 named and 200 unnamed persons have been booked under IPC sections 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), 147 (rioting).

Meanwhile, the woman posted a video on social media saying that she will stay under police protection and won’t return home. “I will not go with my family. It is possible that they will kill me because earlier too, they had tried to poison me. I will stay in police protection and give my statements in front of the judge,” says the woman from Agra.

The video, which has gone viral, is in possession of ThePrint and was recorded at an undisclosed location after the couple eloped on Monday.

Agra police said that the woman was found in Delhi and was currently at a women’s shelter home.

Addressing the media, Agra SSP Sudhir Kumar Singh said, “Some days back, an adult girl eloped with a boy. Both are adults and belong to different communities. The girl has been found by the police. Since the court was shut (due to the prolonged weekend), her statements could not be recorded before the court”.

Singh added that an FIR was being registered and the Naubta police post in charge has been suspended and an inquiry has been recommended against the SHO.

“If found to be negligent, action will be taken against him too. Some people have been detained and are being questioned,” he said.

Police vows strict action

Meanwhile, Agra SSP Sudhir Kumar Singh said that the Gangster and National Security Act will also be invoked against the accused in the case.

On April 11, soon after the girl went missing, a ‘meeting’ was held after which members of self-proclaimed right-wing groups Dharm Jagran Samanvay Sangh and Antarrashtriya Hindu Parishad set on fire two buildings belonging to the boy’s family.

While no injuries were reported, the fire damaged the buildings, police sources said. A video of the arson which has gone viral shows the fire brigade and police personnel trying to douse the blaze.

Meanwhile, the woman’s mother took to social media alleging that her daughter was misled and brainwashed.

The police action follows September 19, 2019, Allahabad High Court which had directed the Uttar Pradesh government to inform about the steps being taken to provide protection to those who entered into inter-caste or interfaith marriages.

(Edited by: Manoj Ramachandran)