Hindu woman who married to Muslim man in Purnia testified in the court that she had married the man willingly and wished to live with her Muslim Husband
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In Bihar’s Purnia district, three houses belonging to Muslim families were damaged and set on fire by a mob in response to an interfaith marriage.
The incident took place in the Damdaha area after a Muslim man married a Hindu woman, defying the objections of her family. The woman’s relatives lodged a police complaint accusing the man of abducting her.
On January 8, police presented the woman before a court, where she testified that she had married the man willingly and wished to live with him. The court upheld her decision, allowing the couple to live together.
The woman’s statement that she wants to live with her Muslim husband reportedly incensed her relatives and several residents of her village, culminating in a violent attack on the homes of the Muslim families. Authorities are investigating the matter, and police have been deployed to prevent further violence.
The incident has sparked outrage and concerns over rising communal tensions in the region.
“Both man and woman are adult. If both had accepted to live together before the court, no one can create hurdles in this regard. Action will be taken against the people who have committed wrong. The police are investigating the whole matter,” said Purnia SP Kartikey Sharma while talking to local media.
Following the attack on the houses, the police force from three police stations was deployed in the area. Fire brigades were called to extinguish fire and people from other places were stopped from entering to the area.
“How can you burn entire house? The woman was ready to elope with him. Then, the man has eloped. Rs 5 lakh was looted from our houses. The incident happened when no one was at home. We are labourer. We had gone to work at field,” said a woman while talking to local media.
Another woman Fatima Bi said that they have lost four goats, two cows and two buffalos. Her husband Sayyed Ansari is a cattle trader. Rs 5 lakh was meant for this trade purpose. It was looted.
“We had fled to save our life when the mob had landed. There were around 300 people,” she explained.
According to a resident of the area, this is the second time such an incident has occurred in the area. Similar attacks targeting Muslim families were reported previously. The repeated violence has heightened concerns about communal tensions in the region.
