The targeting of Salim is part of the growing pattern of painting Muslim men as threats to Hindu women. The case raises deeper questions about identity, consent, and communal politics
NEW DELHI – In a troubling incident that raises serious concerns over rising religious intolerance and stigmatisation of Muslims, a young man named Salim was recently arrested in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad after being accused of so-called ‘love jihad’ by local Hindu groups.
The arrest followed a complaint by a Hindu woman who claimed that Salim, allegedly using the name ‘Tushar’, had tricked her into a relationship, pressured her to convert to Islam, and blackmailed her with private videos.
While police investigations are ongoing, the case has already sparked protests and anger from Hindu groups who stormed the police station demanding strict action. Muslim leaders and legal experts, however, have called for caution, warning against jumping to conclusions without a fair trial and proper evidence.
This incident, like many others, has exposed the growing pattern of painting Muslim men as threats to Hindu women and raising deeper questions about identity, consent, and communal politics.
According to reports, Salim and the complainant were in a relationship for nearly ten months after meeting on social media. The girl alleges that Salim had posed as ‘Tushar’, a Hindu name, to win her trust. She claims that he took her to hotels using a fake Aadhar card and later pressured her to embrace Islam.
The police registered a First Information Report (FIR) under various sections and arrested Salim. The ACP of Kotwali area, Ritesh Tripathi, said: “The girl filed a complaint on June 5, saying the boy used a fake name, had a relationship with her and forced her to convert. Based on this, we have arrested the accused.”
Police say a fake Aadhar card with the name ‘Tushar’ was recovered from Salim. But what many are questioning now is whether this was a case of cheating and personal conflict, or if it is being turned into a communal issue for political reasons.
The incident quickly caught the attention of right-wing Hindu organisations, who gathered outside the police station and shouted slogans demanding punishment. They labelled it a case of ‘love jihad’, a controversial term used by some groups to accuse Muslim men of luring Hindu women to convert them to Islam.
One activist from a local Hindu group said, “This is not just a case of cheating. This is part of a bigger plan. Hindu girls are being targeted. We will not stay silent.”
But Muslim organisations and legal scholars say such responses are dangerous and divisive. “It is shocking how the term ‘love jihad’ is used to label Muslim men without any proof,” said Advocate Arif Mahmood, a senior lawyer based in Delhi. “Every relationship breakdown cannot be turned into a conspiracy.”
Importantly, there is no legal term called ‘love jihad’ in Indian law. The Supreme Court has also never officially accepted this theory. Yet, in recent years, several state governments — including Uttar Pradesh — have passed laws criminalising religious conversion by force or fraud in the context of marriage.
Critics say these laws are being misused to target Muslims.
“These laws have made it easy to arrest Muslim boys even if the relationship was mutual,” said journalist Shaheen Qureshi. “Police often act under pressure from mobs or political groups. What happened to innocent until proven guilty?”
In many cases, the couples involved have said their relationships were consensual and they were being harassed for marrying across faith lines.
Salim’s arrest is not the first such case. In the past five years, dozens of Muslim youths across India have been jailed under similar accusations — often without trial or proper evidence.
A 2023 report by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) noted that in most ‘love jihad’ cases, the media played a key role in building pressure before the facts came out. Many boys were later found innocent, but not before their families faced public shame, job loss, and even violence.
“They are trying to criminalise Muslim identity itself,” said Prof Farah Jabeen of Jamia Millia Islamia. “This is not about justice for women. It’s about controlling them and spreading hate against Muslims.”
Following the Ghaziabad incident, Muslim families in the area say they are afraid. Many parents have told their sons to avoid friendships or relationships with women from other religions out of fear of being wrongly accused.
Salim’s mother, who spoke to Clarion India, said through tears: “My son is not a criminal. The girl and he were talking for months. If he did wrong, let the court decide. But why humiliate us before any trial?”
She also said her son never forced the girl to convert. “They had arguments like any couple. Now it’s being called ‘love jihad’? This is unfair,” she added.
Another concern is the role of the media. News channels and social media pages ran sensational headlines calling Salim a ‘jihadist’ or ‘lover jihadi’ within hours of his arrest — without waiting for the investigation to complete.
“The media has already declared him guilty,” said independent journalist Zoya Khan. “This is not journalism, this is communal propaganda.”
Legal experts say such coverage violates the basic rights of the accused and can unfairly influence the police and courts.
“When a Muslim boy is accused, he becomes front-page news. But when he’s proven innocent, no one talks about it,” said retired judge SM Rizvi. “This is not justice. This is mob rule.”
While police say they are investigating the case, some reports suggest the arrest was made quickly under pressure from local Hindu groups.
A local social activist, Imran Malik, said: “Whenever there’s a dispute involving a Muslim and a Hindu, the police act fast against the Muslim. Why? We must ask these questions.”
He said the fake Aadhar card is serious if true, but the full story must be investigated, including the nature of their relationship, mutual consent, and the role of threats.
“Why was the girl in contact for 10 months if he was forcing her? Was there consent? Was there a breakup? Let the investigation be fair,” Malik added.
Many analysts say such incidents are part of a larger pattern where personal disputes are turned into communal headlines.
“Relationships can go wrong, and people can cheat — but this happens in all communities. Why are only Muslim boys being dragged into jail with this ‘love jihad’ tag?” asked Dr Shabnam Ali, a sociologist from Aligarh Muslim University.
She also pointed out that Hindu boys who cheat Muslim girls rarely face the same anger or media attention.
“This is not about protecting women. This is about attacking Muslims,” she said.
Interestingly, while the girl’s complaint has been taken seriously by the police, her own identity and role in the relationship are not being questioned.
Human rights worker Sameena Farooq raised a point: “If the girl was meeting him in hotels and talking for months, then she was part of the relationship too. She must be protected, but her decisions should also be seen in full context.”
She added that blackmail and violence, if proven, must be punished — but not turned into a communal circus. “Justice must be equal. Religion should not decide guilt,” she said.
The Ghaziabad case is a reflection of the larger problems India is facing today — rising hate, falling trust, and the use of religion to divide people.
For Muslims, incidents like this are not just news headlines. They are warnings. They are reminders that even love can become dangerous in a climate of suspicion and hate.
“We are being pushed into a corner,” said Faizan Qureshi, a student from Delhi. “They want us to live with fear. But we will not stop living.”
The Ghaziabad case is now under police investigation. Salim has been arrested, but whether he is guilty or not should be decided by a court, not a mob or a political party.
Everyone agrees that women must be protected from abuse and exploitation. But using their pain to spread communal hate only harms the nation more.
India’s strength lies in its unity. When justice becomes selective, that strength weakens.
As retired IPS officer Najeeb Ahmad said, “Don’t judge a case by religion. Judge it by facts. That is what real justice means.”
Let the police do their job. Let the courts speak last. And let us stop turning love, heartbreak, or betrayal into hate.
