PTI Photo for representational pupose. PTI Photo for representational pupose.

Some advocates and activists of the right-wing Sanskriti Bachao Manch on Monday reached the Bhopal district court premises and prevented the marriage between a 25-year-old Muslim man and a 22-year-old Hindu woman tagging it as Love Jihad, Indian Express reported.

The couple, Reena Uikey and Shoaib Khan, were looking for a notary when some advocates tipped off the right wing activists who reached the district court premises and posted volunteers at all exit points, the report stated.

It's unclear who called police but the cops intervened and the two were eventually taken to the MP Nagar Police Station with right-wing activists following them.

A resident of Narsinghpur, Reena is an engineering graduate while Shoaib, a resident of Shahzahanabad in Bhopal, repairs coolers for a living. After completing her graduation Reena moved to Bhopal and was taking classes for competitive examinations where she met Shoaib, who has studied till Class XII.

Citing the difference in the couple's educational qualifications, the right-wing activists said it was a clear case of love jihad and that Shoaib had lured Reena by doling out false promises.

This forced the police to intervene. The woman was handed over to a local guardian and eventually to her mother while the man was sent home.

Chandrashekhar Tiwari of the right wing group told The Indian Express that his organisation got a tip from advocates about the impending marriage. "Hindu girls are made to believe that notarized marriages are legal and then they are exploited only to be abandoned after bearing a child or two," he said adding, "we are not against love but we won't let such unions take place because they are part of a conspiracy."

Devendra Rawat, who was till recently president of Bhopal district bar association, said, "We have prevented several such marriages in the past by developing a proper system (intelligence) on the court premises and get timely information."

SP (South) Anshuman Singh told the Indian Express the police reached the court premises because the issue threatened to disrupt public order. "We just wanted to make sure that the girl had not been offered any enticement as was being alleged. She is major and free to go anywhere. She told that she had accompanied him of her own will."



