Taking right-wing activism to the Bhopal district court, a few advocates and Sanskriti Bachao Manch (SBM) joined hands to prevent a marriage between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl, both major, forcing the police to intervene and restore the girl to her relatives on Monday.

Reena Uikey, 22, and Shoaib Khan, 25, were looking for a notary when some advocates tipped SBM activists who reached the district court premises and posted volunteers at all exit points. It’s unclear who called the police but the couple was eventually taken to the M P 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. After completing her graduation Reena moved to Bhopal and was taking classes for competitive examinations where she met Shoaib, who has studied up to 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. All this while, Reena told the police that she was in love with Shoaib and that she wanted to marry him of her own will.

Reena, who lives in a hostel in M P Nagar was handed over to a local guardian, and was eventually restored to her mother, while Shoaib was sent home.

Chandrashekhar Tiwari of SBM 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.”

Earlier the face of Bajrang Dal in Bhopal and now associated with VHP’s publicity wing, Rawat is a practicing advocate. When told that Reena is a major, Rawat claimed she was being enticed to marry. While the activists insisted they will try to ensure that a case was registered against Shoaib, the police said nothing of the sort will happen.

SP (South) Anshuman Singh said 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.”

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