Bajrang Dal leaders have defended the message that went online

Within days of the suicide of a college girl in Mudigere following alleged online harassment by some Hindutva activists over her friendship with a Muslim boy, leaders of the Bajrang Dal have spread a message threatening that they would “thrash” any Hindu woman found spending time with youths from other religions.

Bajrang Dal leaders have defended the message which has gone viral, stating that it was issued “in the interest of avoiding instances of ‘love jihad’.”

Tudukuru Manjunath, Chikkamagaluru district convener of Bajrang Dal, told The Hindu the message was intended to “protect Hindu girls from falling into ‘love jihad’ trap”. He said the outfit’s local leaders had “circulated the message with the right intention” and were “acting to save the victims”.

However, Mr. Manjunath denied any role of his outfit in the suicide of the college student, Dhanyashree, 20, on Saturday.

The Mudigere police have arrested M.V. Anil, president of Mudigere town unit of BJP’s Yuva Morcha on this issue, based on the suicide note. Anil and four others had allegedly visited the girl’s residence and met her parents before the girl committed suicide.

‘Anil targeted’

Bajrang Dal leaders have maintained that neither Anil nor any member of Bajrang Dal in Mudigere was responsible for the death of the girl. Mr. Manjunath said the person who had called the girl and circulated pictures online was not a member of their group.

The Mudigere police had “targeted” Anil because of instigation by Congress leaders, he alleged.