Madhya Pradesh Police Forms SIT To Investigate 'Love Jihad' Allegations After Bhopal Rape Case

The SIT will also examine possible interstate or international links associated with these crimes and scrutinise digital and online platforms to gather evidence.

Representative Image | Madhya Pradesh Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations of forced religious conversion.

Source : ABPLIVE AI

The Madhya Pradesh Police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate allegations of forced religious conversion, amid a clamour for action against “love jihad” in the state. The imitative by officials followed after the rape and blackmail case in Bhopal where a group of men were accused of raping women following hiding their religious identity.

According to a report by the Indian Express, State Police Headquarters confirmed that they received intelligence where “socially vulnerable and weaker sections of girls/women have been systematically targeted through tactics such as romantic entrapment, deception, threats, or other inducements, leading to their mental, physical, and social exploitation.”

“In these incidents, victims have allegedly been coerced into religious conversion through fear, pressure, or deceit. Such incidents are not only criminal in nature, but also pose a serious challenge to the dignity, freedom, and social harmony of women," it said.

Role Of SIT

The SIT has been assigned to identify and investigate cases of forced religious conversions, trace individuals, groups, or networks potentially involved, and ensure strict legal action is taken against those responsible.

The SIT will also examine possible interstate or international links associated with these crimes and scrutinise digital and online platforms to gather evidence. Furthermore, the team will propose preventive strategies to avoid future occurrences.

The issue has sparked political tension, with certain groups launching door-to-door awareness campaigns urging citizens to remain alert to forced conversions.

The SIT is led by the Inspector General of Police (Rural), Bhopal, and includes senior officials such as the Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime & Headquarters) in Urban Bhopal, the Assistant Inspector General of Police (Women Safety Branch), and the Superintendent of Police (State Cyber Cell), among others. The team has the authority to bring in more officers as needed during the course of the investigation.

On May 2, the primary accused in the Bhopal case, arrested for allegedly raping and blackmailing college students, was shot and injured while reportedly trying to flee custody by grabbing a police officer’s gun.

As of now, five victims have filed FIRs at various police stations across Bhopal. Authorities have named six main accused in the case, with five already in custody.